Definition of Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking can be defined as the trading of illegal and illicit drugs. It is a global illegal trade dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited hard drugs.

There are various aspects to the illegal drug trafficking market; some drug traffickers grow and manufacture various hard drugs, while other drug traffickers are involved in the distribution, transportation and sale of these drugs.

Drug trafficking takes place locally and internationally across countries and continents.

Drug Trafficking is a worldwide problem that has proven difficult to control. Drug activities are headed by people known as Drug Barons, who run strong illegal drug organizations internationally using drug traffickers as their agents. The Traffickers help cultivate, manufacture, distribute and sell the drugs. The Drug Barons are the Heads of the Operations and make the most money.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), established in 1989, is a federal law enforcement agency in Nigeria which focuses on hard drugs. The main purpose of the NDLEA is to eliminate the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, and trafficking of hard drugs.

NDLEA in Nigeria does the following:

• Prevents the Manufacturing and Sale of illegal drugs.
• Destroys any hard drugs they find.
• Patrol airports and places where drugs might be illegally exported to other countries.
• Investigate and prosecute criminals.