Kenyan airline profiler held over drug

A clearing agent working with Kenyan airline as a profiler has been apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos over unlawful exportation of 3.1kg of cannabis to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 

Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) detected the suspected dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis packed as gift items in a consignment of foodstuff meant for export as cargo shipment.

NDLEA airport commander, Ahmadu Garba said that the discovery was made when the suspect, Sumaila Enanche brought the consignment for pre-shipment examination. According to him, “the suspect was arrested during screening of cargoes at the airport. We found three parcels of cannabis beautifully packed as gift items weighing 3.1kg inside a consignment of foodstuff which he brought for export to Dubai through Kenyan airline flight”.

Sumaila has two years working experience as a clearing agent at the Lagos airport. He hails from Kogi State and lives at Dopemu Lagos with his wife. In his statement, Sumaila said that “I am a clearing agent with Planet Resources attached to Kenyan airline as a profiling agent. My friend who lives in Dubai asked me to send a bag of foodstuff to him. The bag contains garri, dried fish, seasoning and noodles. I was later arrested when cannabis was discovered during search at the departure hall. I feel very sad over my involvement in this case”.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that any clearing agent that engages in drug trafficking shall be prosecuted. “Clearing agents must be professional in accepting consignments because they are liable when they fail to produce the owner of a cargo that contains narcotics. They have a responsibility to know their customers and also get them to be present during cargo examination. I commend the officers for the arrest because if not for their vigilance the drugs would have been mistaken for gift items” Giade stated.

The NDLEA boss called on agents and other airport workers to resist inducement by members of drug trafficking organisations and report suspicious persons and cargoes promptly. He also assured that the suspect will soon be arraigned.