The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has confirmed a report published by African Business Travel News( ABTN) on Sunday that it has arrested of many staffers of the two ground handling companies operating in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for their involvement in aiding drug trafficking in the airport.
The nation’s anti-narcotic agency in a release by its Principal Staff Officer, Public Affairs, Jonah Achema said in the last three months of the implementation of the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business In Nigeria at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos said it has arrested 14.030kg of controlled and prohibited drugs consisting of 2.575 Kilograms of Cocaine, 5.100 Kilograms of Heroin, 6.615 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, 73.440 Kilograms of Ephedrine, 66.300 Kilograms of Cannabis sativa and three (3) abandoned seizures.
Achema also confirmed the arrests, prosecutions and convictions of some officials of ground handling companies who have offered themselves as collaborators on illicit drug activities in the airport
“Within the last three months after the Executive Order, the NDLEA MMIA Command has made some remarkable seizures to the consternation of the reporter and his sponsors. The Command has arrested 19 suspects and seized a total of 14.030 kilogrammes of controlled and prohibited drugs, which consists of 2.575 Kilograms of Cocaine, 5.100 Kilograms of Heroin, 6.615 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, 73.440 Kilograms of Ephedrine, 66.300 Kilograms of Cannabis sativa and three (3) abandoned seizures,”.
“… The ongoing investigation into the suspicious drug activities of these so called officials, including those of cargo handling companies at the airport. Several of such officers have been prosecuted and convicted in the past while some others are still being prosecuted by the Agency on account of involvement in drug trafficking,” he confirmed,” he said.
The agency which insisted it has never and would never shield any of its officials found wanting if there is any established evidence of misconduct noted that it is through a mutually reinforcing relationship between the Agency and the Media that laudable goal of disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks and ultimately defeat the criminal drug entrepreneurs could be achieved.
According to the release: “It must be noted that the Agency has never and will never shield any officer found wanting if there is any established evidence of misconduct against such an officer …
The Agency, no doubts, sees the Media as a critical stakeholder in the efforts to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks and ultimately defeat the criminal drug entrepreneurs. It is through a mutually reinforcing relationship between the Agency and the Media that this laudable goal can be achieved.”.
It would be recalled that African Business Travel News (ABTN) had on this platform on Sunday October 8, 2017 reported : https://www.africanbusinesstravel.com.ng/ndlea-arrests-13-suspects-beams-searchlight-on-nahco-sahcol-in-lagos-airport/:
