Activities of Drug Enforcement Agencies – SS2 Civic Education Lesson Note (Second Term)

Drug law enforcement agencies are government bodies that enforce Nigeria’s drug laws and control drugs in the country. The two major agencies are the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State three drug laws in Nigeria and what each one provides.
2. Name the two major drug management and control agencies in Nigeria.
3. List the functions of NDLEA and NAFDAC.
4. Describe the activities of law enforcement agencies in the control of drugs.
5. Explain the problems the agencies face and how citizens can help them.

What key terms should you know?

• Drug: a substance that changes how the body or mind works.
• Drug abuse: use of a drug without a doctor’s advice, or in the wrong amount or for the wrong purpose.
• Drug trafficking: the illegal buying, selling, carrying or moving of drugs.
• Narcotic plants: plants that produce harmful drugs, such as Indian hemp (cannabis).
• Fake drug: a drug made to look like a genuine product but not made by the real producer.
• Substandard drug: a drug that does not meet the required quality standard.
• Expired drug: a drug used after the date printed on its pack.
• Confiscation: taking away illegal or smuggled goods by lawful authority.
• Prosecution: taking an offender to court to answer a charge.
• Decree: a law made by a military government.
• Smuggling: bringing goods into or taking goods out of a country secretly and illegally.

What are the drug laws in Nigeria?

Drug laws are rules made by government that state which drug offences exist and the punishment for each.

• Purpose: drug laws are one way the Nigerian government has responded to drug abuse.
• Effect: they set out offences and the punishment for each.

What are examples of drug laws?

1. Indian hemp decree (1966): cultivation of cannabis attracts 21 years’ imprisonment. Exportation attracts 10 years’ imprisonment. Possession of smoking utensils attracts 5 years’ imprisonment.
2. Indian hemp decree (amendment) 1984: provides 21 years’ imprisonment for sales and trafficking, and 4 or more years for smoking and possession.
3. Tobacco smoking decree (1990): prohibits smoking of tobacco in public places. It also requires tobacco advertisers to put warnings on their products, for example “smokers are liable to die young”.

What are the drug law enforcement agencies in Nigeria?

There are two major drug law enforcement agencies in Nigeria: NDLEA and NAFDAC.

• NDLEA: fights illegal drugs, drug trafficking and drug offenders.
• NAFDAC: controls the quality and safety of foods, drugs, cosmetics and chemicals.

What is the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)?

The NDLEA is the Nigerian agency that enforces the laws against illegal drugs and drug trafficking.

• Establishment: set up by Decree 48 of 1989, which took effect in January 1990.
• Where its officers work: strategic places such as international airports, seaports and borders.
• Reason for these posts: to stop the importation and exportation of uncertified drugs and other consumables.

Why are NDLEA officers posted at airports, seaports and borders?

NDLEA officers are posted at these places because they are the points where goods enter and leave Nigeria.

• Entry and exit points: traffickers must pass through airports, seaports or borders to move drugs in or out.
• Checking goods: officers can inspect luggage and cargo for illegal drugs.
• Stopping uncertified goods: drugs and other consumables without approval are kept out of the country.
• Early arrest: traffickers can be caught before the drugs reach the public.

What are the functions of NDLEA?

1. To ensure the eradication of illicit cultivation and demand for narcotic plants across the country.
2. To eliminate the root causes of the production and consumption of narcotic plants.
3. To promote effective enforcement of drug laws in the country.
4. To coordinate all preventive measures against illegal dealings in drugs.
5. To prosecute drug law offenders.

What is the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)?

NAFDAC is the Nigerian agency that regulates and controls the quality of foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals and medical appliances.

• Establishment: set up by Decree 15 of 1993 and officially recognised on 1 January 1994.
• Area of work: foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals and medical appliances.

What are the functions of NAFDAC?

1. Regulation of foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals and similar products.
2. Inspection of foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals and similar products for quality assurance.
3. Laboratory tests of these products and certification of them for consumption.
4. Investigation of raw materials and production centres where these products are made.
5. Registration of foods, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, medical appliances and similar products.

How do NDLEA and NAFDAC differ?

NDLEA deals with illegal drugs and offenders, while NAFDAC deals with the quality of regulated products.

What activities do law enforcement agencies carry out in Nigeria?

The agencies detect, arrest, confiscate, destroy and educate to keep illegal and unsafe drugs away from the public.

1. Detection of fake and expired drugs.
2. Burning of substandard drugs, cosmetics and similar products.
3. Detection of drug traffickers.
4. Arrest of drug traffickers.
5. Confiscation of smuggled food and drug items.
6. Prosecution of drug traffickers.
7. Destruction of plantations of illegal drugs.
8. Public enlightenment campaigns.

Which agency usually carries out each activity?

What problems do the agencies face?

• Long borders: many entry points make smuggling hard to stop.
• Shortage of funds and equipment: this limits inspection, testing and patrols.
• Corruption: some people accept bribes and let offenders go free.
• Public ignorance: many people buy cheap drugs from roadside sellers without checking them.

How can citizens help the agencies?

• Buy from licensed shops: avoid roadside and open-market drug sellers.
• Check the pack: look for a registration number and the expiry date.
• Report offenders: tell the NDLEA or NAFDAC about drug dealers or fake products.
• Obey drug laws: do not grow, sell or use illegal drugs.

Evaluation

1. Name two drug laws in Nigeria and state one provision of each.
2. Write out the full meanings of NDLEA and NAFDAC.
3. State three functions of NDLEA.
4. State three functions of NAFDAC.
5. List four activities of law enforcement agencies in the control of drugs.

Assignment

Explain why NDLEA officials are positioned at airports, seaports and borders. Then list five activities of law enforcement agencies in the control of drugs in Nigeria.