The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on
Saturday said drug trafficking has reduced at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
NDLEA Airport commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, credited
the reduction to improved vigilance of officials, high rate of arrests and
stiffer penalties for drug offenders in Lagos.
He said statistics of arrests and drug seizures
at the Lagos airport indicated that drug seizures reduced from 38.99kg in
October to 2.880kg in November.
Umar said, “We hope to maintain operational focus
in the days ahead because our target is to reduce cases of drug trafficking in
the country.”
The Chairman of the agency, Ahmadu Giade, also
ascribed the downward trend to effective counter-narcotics measures.
He said, “The abandoned seizures made in October
are indications of our growing counter-narcotic measures. The detection of
drugs in woollen carpets and footballs as well as recent stiffer sentences
passed on drug offenders in Lagos must have sent a warning signal to drug
trafficking groups that the clime is not favourable to their sinister
activities.
“Drug barons are in business to make profit but
regular disruption of their transactions through prompt seizures is affecting
them both financially and psychologically.”
The NDLEA boss added that the agency would not
relent in its onslaught on drug cartels.
“We shall remain proactive in our control
strategies in order to remain ahead of drug trafficking groups. We are engaging
in continuous training and surveillance activities to keep drug traffickers
under check,” he added.
Punch
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