The United Nations has raised alarm that there is massive increase in quantities of tramadol that are smuggled into the country all which happens at the seaports.
The UN told Journalists at the ongoing Maritime Security Conference in Abuja described the development as worrying saying the highest volume of illicit drugs are smuggled through the sea.
The Program Officer, UN office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC) Mr. Giuseppe Sernias said that most common among the drugs being trafficked are Tramadol and Cocaine.
He recalled that only recently, Nigeria government intercepted about 150 tonnes of Tramadol being trafficked by sea, while 10 tonnes of Cocaine was seized in Guinea Bissau.
“Certain kinds of drugs are being smuggled into Niger by sea. The most prominent example is the issue of tramadol.
“In 2014, Nigerian authority seized around 8 tonnes of tramadol that smuggled in but the latest data that we have says that in 2018, it was around d 150 tonnes.
“There is massive increase in quantities of tramadol that are smuggled into the country and all of these seizures happen at the seaports.
“The Gulf of Guinea and the whole of West African waters is recording drugs and cocaine trafficking by sea judging by the seizures. Cape Verde, for instance, recently seized 10 tonnes of cocaine, which is a huge amount in the market.
Also speaking Representative, UNODC Country, Oliver Stolpe said Nigerian government has done few things right by signing into law, the Suppression of Piracy and other Offences Act, which for the first time gives comprehensive framework to tackle the issue of piracy and other maritime crimes.
