Set for hajj operation
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has impounded a total of 4,668.880kg about four and a half tonnes of illicit drugs between January and July this year at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos just the anti-drug agency said it is fully prepared to ensure hitch free hajj operations at the airport.
The command also said that it apprehended 43 suspects comprising of different nationals within the same period.
NDLEA Commander, MMIA Command, Mr. Ahmadu Garba disclosed this to journalists this morning at the office of the agency at the Lagos Airport.
Among the seized illicit substances were psychotropic; Tramadol and Phenacetin, which were 4,449.9kg and 11.18kg respectively.
Further breakdown indicated that a total number of 16. 06kg of cocaine was seized in the seven months, heroin was 7.5kg, cocaine heroin mixture; 6.260, cannabis sativa; 15.64, methamphetamine; 42.88, and ephedrine was 119.46kg.
In all, 43 suspects; 38 males and five females from Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Ghana and Congo Brazzaville were all arrested for the illicit act within the period.
The month-by-month seizures indicated that in January, nine male suspects were arrested, February; seven arrests; six males and one female, March; seven arrests, six males and one female and April, six suspects were arrest comprising four males and two females.
Others were May; six suspects – five males and one female, June; two males and July with additional six males.
Garba who explained further that the total kilogrammes of seizures had tripled the ones seized within the same period in 2017, attributed this to the improved cooperation from other agencies, intelligence gathering and surveillance by the officials of the agency at the airport.
He said: “The relationship we have with our international counterparts has been very rewarding because our officers now attend series of trainings, which further improve their intelligence. Also, the issue of Tramadol has contributed to the huge seizures we have made in 2018.
“There were several modes of concealments were adopted by the drug traffickers. Some of the drugs were hidden inside food stuffs, false bottom of luggage. Also, some of the workers within the airport also connived with the traffickers. We will continue to profile passengers before they arrived at the airport and even at the airport, too.”
On the airlift of pilgrims from the airport, the NDLEA commander said the agency is already on ground carrying out all necessary screeing to ensure that no Nigerian pilgrim travel with any illicit drug to the holy land.
Last year’s airlift of pilgrims to the holy land was successful without issue of any Nigerian pilgrims travel with any illicit drug to the holy land; this year also by the grace of Allah shall be hitch free as far as drug trafficking is concerned. We are happy that the National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM) is doing a good job with the screening of all intending pilgrims.
