Any illusion over the involvement of Nigerian nationals in the dangerous but lucrative traffic in hard drugs may have disappeared with the discovery of an illegal factory in Lagos devoted to the manufacture of the illicit merchandise, including methamphetamine, a powerful addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system, according to experts. Preliminary investigations revealed that the factory was being run by some Bolivians and their Nigerian counterparts.
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who made the discovery have said that the existence of such illegal drug firms in Lagos and other parts of the South Eastern states of the country are becoming rampant.
This disclosure is disturbing, because it brings home the reality that if care is not taken, Nigeria will sooner or later confirm its status as a major player in the illicit drugs trade. Drug law enforcement officials believe drugs manufactured in the Lagos plant were destined for export.
The involvement of Bolivian nationals, notorious worldwide in the hard drugs trade, would seem to suggest that they may be looking for alternative havens as the war on drugs in most South American countries gain momentum.
Some of their nationals could be shifting base to territories less identified with the trade, like Nigeria, in order to avoid detection by law enforcement agents.
Because of lax policing and sluggish enforcement of regulations, Nigeria may provide a perfect breeding ground for their extremely lucrative but equally extremely deadly products. They should not be allowed to take root,
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