238 Nigerian women in UK prison over drug trafficking

238 Nigerian women in UK prison over drug trafficking

Written by Emeka Aginam
Saturday, 22 November 2008

At least, 238 Nigerian women are now in the United Kingdom prison over drug trafficking, a United Kingdom based Non- governmental organization, (NGO) Hibiscus, has confirmed.
Speaking at the re-launch of ‘Bola get rich quick’ campaign supported by the British High Commission in Nigeria, the Director of Hibiscus, Olga Heaven MBE, who disclosed this to newsmen during the capacity building event, said that women should not engage in drug trafficking because of the inherent dangers associated with it.

“There are more men in the business. They now use older women to do the buusiness. The Nigerian government should take the campaign against drug trafficking seriously.
The sad thing is that they are not getting away with it. Women play supportive roles in the family and should not engage in such dangerous activities. We urge Nigerian women and women all over the world to shun it. It is a global issue. It affects the global society” she said.
According to her, the family, the church, the media, NGOs and the society should be part of the campaign against drug trafficking, adding that countries of the world must come together to find a solution to reduce the trend to the barest minimum.
“The campaign involves Hibiscus working in partnership with the media, faith leaders, market women, NGOs, and other civil groups to raise awareness and strengthen the partnership against Nigerians acting as drug mules.

The aim is to show that regardless of the level of desperation, acting as a drug mule is no guarantee of wealth or a improvement in living conditions” she added.But speaking on the challenges involved in arresting these drug barons either trafficking from Nigerian to other destinations or into Nigeria , the Director, Operations, National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) Baba Useni said that is very difficult to get the traffickers, adding that they even exchange drugs in the prison.

“These day, they do not come through the airports rather they go through other borders with Nigeria. Our major challenge is fund to sustain the camping in the media.
It is not cheap to carry out the campaign without fund. We will continue to wage war against drug. That is the truth of the matter but everybody, especially, the church and the family must be involved” he said
SOURCE