NO DRUG MONEY in 2011! NDLEA Vows To Monitor Funding In Political Parties
- Details
- Category: Politics
- Published on Sunday, 10 October 2010 15:29
- Written by National Daily
- Hits: 737
AS the political bell begins to ring with politicians moving money in and out of the shores of the country ahead of next year's elections, there are indications that it may not be business as usual. This is because the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has braced to checkmate movement of illegal funds into the country for the purpose of winning the election.
Early this year, an Edo politician was arrested while trying to ferry cocaine worth millions of naira out of the country. He was apprehended by the agency's operatives at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport. He told the operatives that he intention to contest the 2011, elections made him to traffic in drugs. As the matter was still in court, some other politicians were fingered in the importation of a container load of cocaine worth over N4billion at the Tin-can Island Port, Apapa.
Investigations by National Daily Weekend revealed that in 2007, massive illegal money was moved into the country for the purpose of that year's election by some political elements and their fronts who were contesting the elections. Economic and Financial Crimes Commission {Efcc}'s money laundering unit was said to have tracked down some illegal funds from abroad meant to sponsor the election. “This is what the agency is trying to do in this coming election,” our source hinted.
Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency will prevent the use of illicit drug money in the 2011 general elections as its contribution towards credible elections.
Strategies to contain drug money
Giade identified political instability as one of the adverse consequences of drug trafficking adding that the Agency is working out strategies to trace illicit drug proceeds. Illicit drug proceeds are money acquired from drugs sold abroad and brought into the country through shady channels in collaboration with banks. As 2011 draws near all efforts to check activities of drug cartels must be intensified.
“Illicit proceeds of drug deals are lethal arsenal in the hands of criminals. It is capable of destabilizing national economic plans as well as frustrating monetary and fiscal control, thus leading to poverty, underdevelopment and anarchy. Assets derived from illicit drug trade can be used to influence political decisions and overthrow legitimate governments,” Giade stated.
Giade said this in his presentation during the just concluded Defence and National Security Week at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, Plateau State. In a paper entitled: The Role of the NDLEA in the Promotion of Good Governance for National Security, he described the implications of drug trafficking on national security as devastating. The NDLEA boss who was represented by the Agency's Commander at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Hamza Umar said that Nigerians must consciously eradicate illicit drugs from the country.
According to him, illicit drug production, distribution and abuse leads to incalculable personal, social, cultural, political and national security hazards. “The consequences of cultivation, processing or manufacturing, packaging, smuggling, retailing and peddling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are disastrous. Our task therefore is to consciously checkmate the activities of drug barons through fearless and unflinching commitment to drug control policies”. He stated.
National Daily Weekend gathered that the Agency was to monitor the political activities as the election approaches. The drug czar hinted that the politicians will be checked through their electoral campaign donations and other forms of monetary inducement. Drug barons who successfully channel their resources in politics may exert overbearing influence over candidates and officials who are their beneficiaries. In the circumstance, “drug merchants would wield both political and economic powers thereby making strict control and enforcement of regulations against trade in narcotics and psychotropic substances very difficult. These are the conditions that more or less prevail in countries having serious drug problem” the NDLEA boss stressed.
Drug money in terrorism
Investigations revealed that drugs remain the most significant source of funds for the spread of extreme violent and terrorist organizations in several parts of the world. It has been said that the funds derived from the illicit drug business can only be compared with that of crude oil. With such limitless funds at their disposal, drug barons can recruit at will and acquire any arms and ammunition with little hindrance.
In view of the glaring threat drugs pose in undermining internal security and strengthening of conflicts, the Agency boss said that they had to evolve policies, programmes and undertake activities in line with its statutory responsibilities by halting supply and demand of illicit drugs.
