*Provides Details Of Seizures From Lagos Night Club Raid
*Says Owner, Manager In Custody
THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned night club operators and fun seekers about the increasing culture of organising, hosting and attending drug parties, a disturbing fad within social circles, which it stated is illegal under the Nigerian law.
This followed a raid by its operatives at a drug party held on the night of Saturday, October 25, into the early hours of Sunday, October 26, at Proxy Night Club, located at 7, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
During the operation, over 100 attendees were arrested, along with the owner of the club, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, aka Pretty Mike, and his Manager, Joachin Millary.
NDLEA stressed that “any gathering organised for the purpose of consuming, distributing or abusing illicit substances is an act of criminality and these ‘drug parties’ contravene the explicit provisions of the NDLEA Act and will be treated as serious narcotic offences.”
It added: “In the case of the drug party at Proxy Night Club, organisers went above board and had the audacity to produce and circulate flyers inviting fun seekers to come together to commit crime, an act that not only constitutes an incitement to commit crime, but also an affront to the law enforcement capabilities of the country if condoned.
“Nigeria is currently grappling with a very high prevalence rate of drug abuse, particularly among our youths. These illicit drug parties do not only fuel the drug scourge, but also serve as hubs for new recruitment into drug addiction and actively undermine our current national efforts to safeguard public health and security.
“In the recent case, the NDLEA was meticulous and professional throughout the processes leading to the raid and during the operation.
“Following intelligence on the party, our undercover agents conducted surveillance on the facility, made pre-purchases of illicit drugs from within the club and for four hours between 11pm on Saturday and 3am on Sunday during the party, our operatives observed and recorded drug transactions and abuse going on before we eventually disrupted the brazen public display of illegality and made arrests.
“All attendees initially arrested were later profiled, addressed, counselled and released within hours in custody, in line with best global practices, while the two principal suspects- Pretty Mike and his Manager, Joachin Millary, remain in custody, following the seizure of 384.882 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis and other substances from the club’s store.”
It went further: “While the agency will intensify surveillance and apply the full force of the law against perpetrators, owners of properties, hotels and event centres found to be knowingly hosting such illegal activities risk the confiscation and forfeiture of their assets to the Federal Government.
“Those held in custody in the ongoing case will face prosecution, while we will file for forfeiture of the property, Proxy Night Club, in which the drugs were found.”
The anti-drug agency urged all patriotic Nigerians, parents, religious and community leaders and concerned citizens to be vigilant, report such activities and partner with it in combating the threat to national well-being.
