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| Giade |
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has revealed that it saved 20 suspected traffickers from execution in Asian countries.
The suspects, comprising 19
Nigerians and a Ghanaians were saved from execution after operatives of the
NDLEA prevented them from exporting drugs to countries with capital punishment
for drugs since January 2014.
The Agency spokesman, Mitchel
Ofoyeju, said that 16 of the suspects were apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while four others, including a Ghanaian were
caught at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu. Their final
destinations are Malaysia, China and Thailand where drug trafficking is
punishable by death.
NDLEA boss, Ahmadu Giade, while
commiserating with the families of the executed drug convicts Indonesia, urged
stakeholders to intensify anti-drug abuse campaign efforts.
His words: “I sincerely sympathise
with the families of the executed drug convicts. This is a moment of sober
reflection on the illicit activities of drug trafficking syndicates. This
brings to the fore the bigger picture of those in foreign prisons, those
arrested here and others preparing to smuggle drugs. It is a wakeup call for
stakeholders to step up their counter-narcotics efforts.”
He noted that aside from drug
trafficking being a criminal act, narcotic smuggling poses a serious threat to
public health and safety. He said that while many people were rendered comatose
from drug abuse, others including top celebrities had often died prematurely on
account of drug addiction.
He added people at various levels
must take responsibility in preventing illicit drug production, trafficking and
abuse.
He said: “The NDLEA has one of the
highest criminal convictions in the country. In 2014, we won the conviction of
2,054 drug offenders. As we work very hard to reduce cases of illicit drug
trafficking, it’s imperative for individuals and groups to take steps aimed at
preventing their loved ones from getting involved in drug abuse and trafficking.”
Ofoyeju said that a total of
106,914kg of various narcotic drugs was seized from the 20 drug suspects.
Ofoyeju said: “While 83.08kg of
drugs was seized at the Lagos airport, 23.834kg of drugs was seized at the
Enugu airport. The breakdown of the drugs includes 89.024kg of cannabis,
9.375kg of methamphetamine, 3.450kg of amphetamine, 2.89kg of heroin and
2.175kg of cocaine.”
The only Ghanaian among the
suspects, Musa Idrisa also known as Charles Udenehi was going to Bangkok,
Thailand with 450 grammes of cocaine he had ingested. Three females were also
among those apprehended. They are Chidinma Deborah Okafor a professional dancer
caught with 3.450kg of amphetamine hidden in a pair of Jeans trousers while
attempting to board a flight to Malaysia. Eze Ifeoma Maureen was caught with
6.200kg of cannabis on her way to China while Alade Muyinotu was found with
1.725kg of cocaine and 1.715kg of heroin on her way to China.
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