Narcotics found in dried fish consignment

A 35-year-old man who tried to smuggle narcotic into Nigeria through a consignment of dried fish, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The suspect, identified as Chukwu Onyekachi Emmanuel was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos State.

The dried fish consignments were imported from Thailand.

 NDLEA, Head, Public Affairs Ofoyeju Mitchell said that Anti-narcotic agents arrested Emmanuel in connection with the illicit import.

According to him, the shipment was detected during inward screening of goods onboard an Ethiopian airline flight.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, added that three different narcotics were found in the consignment containing dried fish.

His words: “Three types of drugs were found concealed in dried fish. The drugs recovered by the NDLEA during the search operation include 24 packs of morphine injections weighing 14.960kg, 24 packs of pethidine injections weighing 10.820kg and 157 packs of apresoline injections weighing 3.505kg. In all a total of 29.285kg was seized and a customs licensed agent who handled the clearance of the shipment had also been apprehended.”

Mitchell said that it was pertinent to note that unlike cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine drugs like morphine, pethidine and apresoline are not frequently seized in the country.

He further said: “Besides, the seized drugs have been industrially prepared in injectable forms. This increases risk of abuse particularly among injecting drug addicts.” 

The suspect who lives in Lagos with his wife and three children told investigators that he was paid to clear the consignment.

Emmanuel said: “A client asked me to clear the consignment. I was told that the content is dried fish. NDLEA officers said that they wanted to search it. I told them that it contained fish but that they were free to search. During examination, packs of injections were found under the dry fish. I was then arrested.”

Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, promised to charge all persons linked with the import to court, adding,   “The Agency shall prosecute all persons connected with the unlawful import.”

The NDLEA boss warned that agents were liable and would be prosecuted if narcotics were found in their consignments.