Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos seized narcotic drugs weighing 455.215kg between January and June 2015 with an estimated street value of the drugs of N2.8 billion naira, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.
In addition, $2.5 million dollars cash was equally intercepted while seventy-five (75) suspected drug traffickers and money launderers were arrested in connection with the seizures. They are 62 males and 13 females.
The intercepted money includes $2.1 million dollars seized from a bureau de change operator which had been transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation. Fifteen (15) arrests were recorded on Emirates airline being the most preferred flight for those apprehended. Qatar airways had eleven (11) arrests, Ethiopian airline followed closely with eight (8) arrests and Etihad airways seven (7) arrests.
NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar gave a breakdown of the seized drugs. “The seized drugs include cannabis sativa 138.304kg, ephedrine 133kg, methamphetamine 93.85kg, cocaine 43.426kg and tramadol 42.025kg. We also seized 2.5 million dollars cash within the period. The money include the 2.1 million dollars seized from one Mr. Ibiteye John Bamidele who is a bureau de change operator as well as other financial seizures totaling $403,825” Hamza stated.
The commander noted that several modes of concealment adopted by the suspects were detected by the Agency. In his words, “22 suspects were arrested for ingesting drugs, 33 were caught with drugs packed inside their luggage while 6 others were found to have packed drugs on their bodies all in a bid to evade arrest. Thirty-nine (39) of the suspects were caught during outward screening attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country. Seven among them were going to China where drug trafficking attracts death penalty. Twenty-eight (28) others were apprehended during inward screening operations with twenty three (23) of them coming from Brazil”.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the anti-narcotic Agency, Ahmadu Giade says illicit drug proceeds are highly injurious to the economy and that Nigeria cannot afford to handle drug trafficking with kid gloves. “Illicit funds generated by drug trafficking is colossal. Such proceeds are unaccounted for and constitute a high risk in the coffers of drug syndicates which empowers them to sustain their inimical acts. As a result, we must continue to confront drug trafficking cartels with every sense of seriousness by deploying available resources at our disposal” Giade stated.
The NDLEA boss assured Nigerians that the Agency is working very hard to dismantle more drug syndicates.
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