The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has explained the reason its agency carried out a raid at a drug party, where over 100 attendees were arrested along with the owner of the facility, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu alias Pretty Mike.
The Lagos socialite was arrested in the nightclub alongside others on Saturday night at Proxy Night Club located at 7 Akin Adesola street, Victoria Island, Lagos,
NDLEA in a statement by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stated that any gathering organized for the purpose of consuming, distributing, or abusing illicit substances is an act of criminality.
He warned night club operators and fun seekers that it is illegal to organize, host and attend drug parties.
The statement reads, “These ‘drug parties’ contravene the explicit provisions of the NDLEA Act and will be treated as serious narcotic offences.
“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 equally 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 equally 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.
