Officials
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized illicit drugs
valued at two hundred and forty million naira (N240,000,000) at the
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The drugs weighing 95.93kg
were seized between January and March 2014. A total of nineteen (19) suspected
drug traffickers were also apprehended. The suspects include sixteen males and
three females.
NDLEA
Commander
at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar gave the breakdown of arrests
and seizures in the first quarter of 2014 as follows. “Within the first
quarter of 2014, the Airport command seized cocaine 9.060kg,
heroin 16.950kg, cannabis 27.235kg, methamphetamine 3.4kg, ephedrine
2kg,
morphine 14.96kg,apresoline 3.505kg, pethidine 10.82kg and diazepam 8kg.
The
total weight of seized drugs in the period under review is 95.93kg while
persons arrestedare16 males and 3 females” Hamza stated.
The
Anti-narcotic Agency observed that there was a reduction in quantity of drugs
seized in the first quarter of 2014 when compared to 2013. This is so because
in the first quarter of 2013, total drugs seized at the Lagos airport was
172.145kg. While the quantity of drugs reduced by 76.215kg in the period under
review; number of persons arrested also reduced by one.
The
record of drug seizure and arrest in first quarter of 2013 is as follows;
cocaine 16.015kg heroin 0.165 grammes and methamphetamine 155.965kg.Total drug
seized amounted to 172.145kg while suspects are18 males and 2 females.
In
his reaction, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, AhmaduGiadesaid that the
Agency will continue to intensify security checks at all exit points in the
country. “The reduction in the quantity of drugs seized is an indication that
we are making progress in our search operations. We shall continue to improve
on our counter-strategies through the use of latest technology in drug control”
Giade stated.
The NDLEA boss also assured
that the cases of those arrested shall be diligently prosecuted to a logical
conclusion.
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