N1.6b Drugs Seized At MMIA

Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA chairman.

Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA chairman

About N1.6 billion worth of hard drugs have been seized this year alone at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has disclosed.

Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA chairman.

The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, also disclosed that a total of 203.849 kilogrammes of illicit drugs were also seized at the Lagos airport between January and September this year.

The breakdown, he said, shows that 79.696 kilogrammes of cocaine, 21.705 kilogrammes of heroin and 57.725 kilogrammes of cannabis were intercepted within the period.

He disclosed that other illicit drugs intercepted between January and September this year are, 39.223 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 5.500 kilogrammes of ephedrine.

The agency’s commander at the Lagos airport, Alhaji Hamza Umar, revealed that 92 suspected drug traffickers comprising 82 male and 10 female, were arrested at the Lagos airport this year.

“The NDLEA will resist attempts by drug trafficking syndicates to overrun our country. We are determined to incapacitate them by constant drug seizures, assets forfeiture, arrests and prosecution. Imagine a situation where drug barons would have made N1.6 billion at the Lagos airport alone. Our efforts will be geared towards the prevention of the huge profit in drug sales,” Giade said.

The NDLEA boss identified airport interdiction, regular seizures of narcotics, zero tolerance for corruption and international collaboration as the country’s unique selling points in counter-narcotics programmes.

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According to Giade, the NDLEA has justified its establishment with giant strides as it cannot afford to be ineffective because of the consequences of drug trafficking and abuse.

“Nigeria’s drug control capacity is rising with high airport interdiction record, regular drug seizures, zero tolerance for corruption and effective international collaboration.

“Every successful case of drug trafficking is risky and portends danger to the society. It increases the resources, power and influence of drug lords to the detriment of legitimate governments. We must therefore continue to emasculate drug trafficking cartels to perpetually subject them under our control,” Giade said.

Giade called on stakeholders to increase support for drug control programmes in the country.

“Any investment and sacrifice in securing the country from the activities of drug barons is a prudent step towards protecting lives and property. I therefore call on all stakeholders to increase their support for the agency. There is room for improvement in our operations to secure the future of the country from the hands of drug cartels,” he said yesterday.

—Simon Ateba

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