The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and a civil society organisation, the Eagle Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative (ECAPI), have pledged to intensify the seizure of assets linked to drug trafficking and properties used to harbour drug dealers across Lagos State.
The commitment was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by ECAPI’s founder and president, Sam Adams, following a large-scale anti-drug advocacy campaign organised by the Lagos State Strategic Command of the NDLEA in collaboration with ECAPI.
According to Adams, the sensitisation exercise targeted major drug-prone areas of the state, with a strong warning to property owners who allow their premises to be used for drug-related activities.
“Drugs are destroying lives, health, dreams and even the economy. We are declaring zero tolerance. Landlords who knowingly allow their properties to be used for drug sales should understand that such assets are at risk of forfeiture,” he said.
The advocacy walk began in Maryland and passed through Mushin, Oshodi, Ojuelegba, Costain and Lagos Island, as NDLEA officers and ECAPI volunteers engaged residents, youths and suspected drug users in various local languages.
Adams also revealed plans to expand the anti-drug campaign to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, noting that ECAPI would continue to partner with law enforcement agencies to sustain the momentum. He described the collaboration with the NDLEA as productive, adding that similar partnerships exist with other security and anti-graft agencies.
Speaking during the sensitisation exercise, the Lagos State NDLEA Commander, Abubakar Wali, said the agency was strengthening its enforcement strategy by focusing on the recovery of proceeds from drug-related crimes.
He stressed that properties used to harbour drug dealers would no longer be spared, describing asset forfeiture as a strong deterrent in the fight against illicit drugs.
“Our fight is no longer limited to arrests and prosecution. We are now targeting the assets and proceeds of crime. In Lagos, we have seized cash, hotels, houses and other properties linked to drug activities and returned them to government coffers,” Wali said.
He added that the street sensitisation campaign was a key part of the agency’s renewed emphasis on prevention and community reorientation.
Experts have continued to urge members of the public to actively support efforts against drug abuse, noting that collective responsibility is critical to ending the menace.