As drug trafficking continues to emerge as a significant challenge in Nigeria, impacting millions of individuals through addiction and related crimes, stakeholders have proposed stiffer penalties as part of measures to curb the menace.

According to LEADERSHIP Data Miners, the stakeholders disclosed this at different fora as a national drug use survey revealed that 10.6 million Nigerians, of ages between 15 and 64, abuse cannabis out of a total of 14.3 million drug abusers.

In recent times, many drug traffickers have been arrested by law enforcement agencies and tried in the nation’s courts.

For instance, a Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced Freeman Charles Ogbonna to 25 years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

Ogbonna was sentenced three months after vomiting and excreting 80 wraps of cocaine following his arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The NDLEA also recently arrested four Nigerian pilgrims attempting to transport illicit drugs to Saudi Arabia.

In South Africa, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, popularly known as the Hawks, arrested two men, a 48-year-old Nigerian and a 43-year-old South African, for drug trafficking.

NDLEA chairman Brig-Gen Buba Marwa (retd) disclosed that the agency seized 761,000 tonnes of illicit drugs and substances between January 2021 and March 2024.

Also, in a three-year report, the agency disclosed that it arrested 52,901 individuals involved in drug-related crimes, including 48 high-profile drug barons.

“The magnitude of our effort is reflected in the statistics of our drug supply reduction activities. We have arrested 52,901 drug traffickers, including 48 barons, in three and half years. Over 9,000 of the suspects have been convicted in court. We have also seized, in the same period, 7.6 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit substances,” he said.

Perhaps, to deter the perpetrators of illegal drug trafficking, in May the Senate approved the death penalty for individuals involved in dealing, importing, manufacturing, trafficking, or delivering cocaine, heroin, and other hard drugs into the country.

The proposed capital punishment is part of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which the Senate debated and resolved to endorse.

If passed, the law would empower judges to issue death sentences to those convicted of producing, supplying, or selling narcotics, replacing the current maximum sentence of life in prison.

According to Ibrahim Abdullahi, founder of the Muslim Media Watch Group, the current law has not been a sufficient deterrent.

LEADERSHIP reports that over 20 countries worldwide have made the death penalty the punishment for drug trafficking.

He said, “If Nigeria follows suit, it’s not excessive. I see this as a strong deterrent to drug peddlers.”

Also, the United Nations has assured Nigeria of support in its ongoing war against drug abuse and drug trafficking.

UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed gave the assurance when she paid a courtesy visit to NDLEA chief executive officer, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd), in Abuja.

She said the UN was ready to support NDLEA to succeed in its onerous task of curbing the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi recently called on the federal government to intensify its efforts against drug abuse by implementing stricter penalties for drug traffickers.

President of the Anti-Drug Trafficking Network, Ngozi Uzo, said traffickers exploit weaknesses in border security and jurisdictional differences to evade law enforcement. She posited that close collaboration, intelligence sharing, joint operations, and coordinated border patrols will significantly enhance enforcement effectiveness.

“Nigeria should continue to implement preventive initiatives by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), such as alternatives to illicit drug cultivation, monitoring illegal drug crops, and projects against money laundering. In addition, Nigeria should enhance intelligence sharing and improve law enforcement agencies’ abilities to track and dismantle trafficking networks.

“A comprehensive trafficking operation targeting interventions and cooperation is necessary to prevent the diversion of drug precursors and chemicals used in illicit drug production,’’ she said.

Social analyst Ehi Emmanuel said Nigeria must wage a decisive war against the illicit drug ecosystem to prevent drug barons from undermining the government, as seen in Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela.

He said rather than impose the death penalty, the Senate should introduce strict penalties to punish offenders.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country of more than 200 million people, has, in recent years, gone from being a transit point for illegal drugs to a full-blown producer, consumer, and distributor.

The abuse of opioids, especially tramadol and cough syrups containing codeine, has been widespread throughout Nigeria, according to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) which banned the production and importation of codeine cough syrup in 2018.

While cannabis is cultivated locally, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other narcotics are trafficked through the country alongside opioids to feed a growing addiction problem.

Even on the global scene, drug trafficking has been a disturbing trend. According to the UNODC, drug trafficking involves the illicit trade of substances prohibited by law, generating substantial profits for criminal organisations and contributing to societal harm, economic instability, and public health risks worldwide.

The executive director of Ghada Waly, the UNODC World Drug Report 2024 noted that drug production, trafficking, and use continue to exacerbate instability and inequality while causing significant harm to people’s health, safety, and well-being.

Waly emphasised the need for evidence-based treatment and support for those affected by drug abuse, urging governments to target the illicit drug market and invest more in prevention measures.

The report indicates a concerning trend: the global number of drug users surged to 292 million in 2022, marking a significant increase over the past decade.

Approximately, 35 million people worldwide struggle with drug use disorders, while drug trafficking generates billions of dollars for criminal organisations.

The report further identifies cannabis as the most prevalent drug worldwide, with approximately 228 million users. It also notes significant numbers for opioids (60 million users), amphetamines (30 million users), cocaine (23 million users), and ecstasy (20 million users).

Analysts say these figures underscore the global scale of substance abuse and its profound impact on societies, reflecting a complex challenge that demands coordinated international efforts for effective prevention, treatment, and enforcement strategies.