New Killer Drug Hits Town, NDLEA Issues Alarm

As Nigeria reels from the effects of methamphetamine or crystal meth, a.k.a. mkpurummiri, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it has uncovered plans by some unscrupulous elements to introduce a lethal synthetic opioid called Fentanyl, which, it says, is 100 times stronger than Tramadol, into the Nigerian market, warning that the illicitly manufactured drug is capable of causing mass casualty among the youth population being targeted by some cartels, reports Jude Atupulazi.

The anti-narcotics agency, in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said every step must be taken to ensure that the drug which is currently responsible for over 70% overdose deaths, as well as a major contributor to fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the US, was not allowed to circulate in Nigeria because of its lethality and the current drug abuse prevalence of 14.4% in the country.

‘We are not unaware of desperate efforts by some drug cartels to introduce to the Nigerian market, Fentanyl, which, according to the CDC, is 80 times as potent as morphine and 100 times more potent than heroin.

‘This, they plan to do, either in liquid or powder form and/or with misleading labels to target our youth population. This they may also mix with other prescription drugs.

The illegally manufactured fentanyl in its liquid form can come in nasal sprays, eye drops, or small candies.

‘As a result, parents and other stakeholders are advised to be vigilant, alert and warn their young ones against attempting experimenting with this illicit substance.

Symptoms for fentanyl exposure and/or overdose include pinpoint pupils, falling asleep or losing consciousness, slow and shallow breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, limp body, and pale, blue, or cold skin,’ the NDLEA stated.

The Agency assured the public that all necessary assets had been deployed to monitor the cartels involved in this latest threat to public health with a view to frustrating what it called their criminal plot and make them face the wrath of the law.