Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), means different things to different people. To virtually everybody, it is the seat of
power. But to some people, it’s a place where you have unrestricted access to lethal drugs. Sunday Vanguard, in an undercover mission, unveils the black spots where drugs in the FCT are sold.
BY Somto Monanu
Drug-HAWKINGThey stand like other people along the road, their look unsuspecting. They pose like passengers waiting to flag down buses, taxis and cabs going to Kubwa, Zuba, Suleja, and other suburbs of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Yet they are no intending passengers.
But that is only the first phase. They have another technique that gives them cover: Hawking of fuel otherwise called black marketing. In their numbers, they stand at short distances, each person with a Jerry can of 10 liters of fuel, sometimes 20 liters. There is a gas station nearby to give credence to their pretense of hawking fuelThe pretense is only a shield to a bigger business which is done clandestinely.
Now, who are they? In simple answer, they are drug merchants; a group of young boys, mainly from the North, who peddle all kinds of drugs ranging from Codeine to Refnor, Rohypnol, Tramandor and Marijuana. The list is inexhaustive.
The drugs are stimulants- raw stimulants. In the parlance of the sellers, they “high” anyone who takes them. “High” here means to stimulate the person.
Yet, there are other kinds of drugs sold here- sex enhancing, etc. Interestingly, while some of these drugs are unethical and controlled, some you can also buy- off-the-shelf from pharmaceutical outlets. But you can bet that many prefer picking them up from the streets, in fact, from the boy hawkers rather than going into the pharmacy.
Selling point
A drive from Central Business Area through Wuse 2 to Banex Junction brings you face to face with the merchants. Banex Junction is a very busy area. It is the western end of the ever- busy Ahmadu Bello Expressway that links Gwarimpa, Wuse 2 and Mabuchi depending on where one is coming from. At the junction, a tall building with a billboard clearly announces the selling spot. There, in the front of a filling station, you always find the boys.
How they operate
They know their customers and their customers know them. A whisper sets them running after the customer. But for a new customer who comes in a car, stopping in the front or a little after the station brings them to your car. And in seconds, the deal is sealed and the customer zooms off with the boys retreating to base under a shade provided by a tree in front of the fuel station waiting for another customer.
Any other place?
Yes, it is delusional to think Banex Junction is the only place the business is done in Abuja. Indeed, there are other places where the business thrives. Investigations showed that Area 2 shopping plaza is another safe haven for the drug vendors. There is where you usually find a group of youngsters who flock around any car that stops or enters the parking garage. At first, you may mistake the boys for traffic task force officers coming for unauthorized parking. But a deep look around tells you that they are not agents of government.
Like the ones at Banex, the boys at Area 2 plaza also have a cover: Big bottles for water dispensing machines which litter the place. With this, another impression that comes to mind is that the boys are calling for customers or, better still, they are laborers intent on helping customers load the bottles in the boot when they are bought. But again, that’s not their business. Drugs are.
Then enter the parks and gardens that litter the city of Abuja. While some gardens are drug free, many are spots for all manners of drugs. It takes an investigative mind who also understands some sort of esoteric languages or sign languages to follow suit.
No hidden business
Selling is done in broad daylight. No inhibitions. No police. The boys conduct their businesses without qualms. They don’t need to know whether first time buyers are police officers or not. Their business is to sell the goods, as well as potentially explaining to their customers that they should learn how to keep marijuana fresh to ensure that it’s at the highest standard. Because of this, drugs like marijuana are often sold in these sort of situations. The people growing the marijuana don’t usually sell the drugs personally, but some dealers do. They may even use retail seed to sale tracking software to keep track of their business. In this case, the boys were just selling the drugs in daylight.
That’s how, Sunday Vanguard, during an undercover mission, got two tablets of Rohypnol/Flunitrazepam from Banex Junction.
The intention was to buy some wraps of marijuana to ascertain the reality of the business. But unsure of the code name and the fear of being identified, the writer preferred anything that was available without further questions about other items.
The items have coded names and the buyers are expected to know the business without asking neophyte’s questions.
Now armed with the drugs, the writer zoomed off yet completely ignorant of what was in his possession. But then, there is an alternative always available to every curious journalist–research. Swiftly, a punch on the IPAD showed the result below from google.
What is Rohypnol?
Rohypnol is the trade name for Flunitrazepam, a drug that acts as a sedative, muscle relaxant, hypnotic, and antidepressant. While Flunitrazepam is called Rohypnol when marketed by Roche, it is also sold by other companies under the names Darkene, Flunipam, Flunitrazepam, Fluscand, Hipnosedon, Hypnodorm,, Ilman, Insom, Nilium, Silece, and Vulbegal.
What does Rohypnol look like?
Rohypnol is available as a pill, though the pill may be crushed and mixed into food or drinks or it may be dissolved in liquid and injected. The present form of the drug is imprinted with 542 and supplied as a 1-milligram dose in an olive green, oblong tablet which contains a blue dye that is supposed to be visible if the drug is added to a drink. Before that, Rohypnol was sold as a white 2-milligram tablet.
How is Rohypnol used?
Rohypnol may be taken as a pill or the pill may be crushed and snorted or added to a food or drink.
Why do people use Rohypnol?
As a prescription medication, Rohypnol is used as a pre-anesthetic medication and as a short term treatment for insomnia. Speaking of insoo treat the depression resulting from the use of cocaine, methamphetamine, and other stimulants.
As a recreational drug, Rohypnol (roofies) may be seen at nightclubs, parties, and raves. The drug has been used in connection with rape and robbery to incapacitate the victim and prevent him or her from recalling the crime. Rohypnol may be used to commit suicide.
What are the effects of Rohypnol use?
The effects of Rohypnol use may be felt within 15 to 20 minutes of administration and may last for over 12 hours. Symptoms associated with use of Rohypnol include drowsiness, lowered blood pressure, muscle relaxation, headache, visual disturbances, dizziness, slurred speech, poor reaction time, confusion, memory impairment, upset stomach, retention of urine, tremors, and nightmares.
One side effect associated with Rohypnol use is retroactive amnesia, where the person who took the drug can’t remember events that occurred while under the influence of the drug. Although Rohypnol is a depressant, it may produce excitability, talkativeness, or aggressive behavior. Overdose of Rohypnol produces sedation, impaired speech and balance, respiratory depression, and potentially coma or death.
Is Rohypnol illegal?
Yes, in the United States of America, Rohypnol is classified as an unethical drug. But it is yet to know whether the Nigerian laws tolerate it.
Why is Rohypnol illegal in the United States?
It is illegal to manufacture, sell, or use Rohypnol in the United States because taking it can produce physiological and psychological dependence and benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. The drug is legal in other countries (e.g., Mexico) and is smuggled into the US through the mail or other delivery services. The benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant and can be gruelling but, with proper support, the road to recovery can be laid clearly before addicts. Addiction can be a serious business, those who find themselves dealing with addiction, look to an external source as a way of helping to rid themselves of their addiction. Unfortunately, addiction recovery does have its drawbacks, with many former addictions dealing with post acute withdrawal syndrome. Fortunately, clinics and rehab centers do have a way to help them deal with the withdrawal syndrome.
Bottom line
Investigations revealed that most Nigerian laws forbid some sensitive drugs to be in the possession of unauthorized individuals even if they are knowledgeable about drugs and medicines. Now, if that is the case, why should touts, stark illiterates be allowed to sell these sensitive drugs on the streets of Abuja? For one, it is still very difficult to place why Rohypnol as lethal as it can be is allowed to be in the hands of the gangsters like the ones at Banex Junction. Many Nigerians are of the opinion that if nothing is done to arrest the situation, it could escalate to uncontrollable stance. It may be just a matter of time before Nigeria becomes another Columbia.
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