24th January, 2011
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted 8.4 kilogrammes of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, South-West Nigeria.
The NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said this morning that the seizure is the highest this year at the airport and has a street value of N42 million.
A passenger who travelled on an Emirate flight from Bangladesh to Lagos, Mr. Nwobodo Ikechukwu, has also been arrested in connection with the heroin seizure, the agency said.
The seizure comes only days after NDLEA seized 110 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos.
Ofoyeju disclosed that the drug was concealed in a false bottom of Nwobodo’s luggage.
NDLEA Commander at the Airport, Alhaji Hamza Umar, said that the 32-year old suspect has given useful information to a team of investigating narcotic officers.
Hamza expressed optimism that more arrests will be made in connection with the seizure he described as exciting.
“The drug was discovered during routine check of passengers. I can tell you that the seizure is an exciting experience for us in the New Year. The suspect is cooperating and investigation is ongoing,†Hamza said.
Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, stressed that the target of the agency is to incapacitate drug trafficking cartels.
According to the NDLEA boss, “we have understudied the trend of drug trafficking and our target is to systematically incapacitate drug trafficking cartels.â€
P.M.NEWS learnt that the suspect is an amateur footballer.
—Simon Ateba
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