N240m Worth Of Drugs Seized At Lagos Airport In Three Months

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized illicit drugs valued at N240 million at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in the first quarter of the year.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday, Head of Public Affairs of NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the drugs, weighing 95.93kg, were seized between January and March.

A report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the  NDLEA as saying a total of 19 suspected drug traffickers were arrested during the period.

“The total weight of drugs seized during the period under review is 95.93kg. The suspects include 16 males and three females,” it said.

The statement said the NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Hamza Umar, gave details of the arrest and seizures.

“Within the first quarter of 2014, the airport command seized 9.06kg of cocaine, 16.7kg of heroin, 27.24kg of cannabis and 3.4kg of methamphetamine.

“Others are ephedrine 2kg, morphine 14.96kg, apresoline 3.51kg, pethidine 10.82kg and diazepam 8kg,’’ the statement said.

According to the agency, there was a reduction in the quantity of drugs seized during the period compared with the same period in 2013.

“In the first quarter of 2013, total drugs seized at the Lagos airport was 172.15kg,’’ it said.

The statement said the number of persons arrested within the period under review also reduced by one.

“The record of drug seizure and arrest made in first quarter of 2013 is as follows; cocaine 16.02kg, heroin 0.17 gm and methamphetamine, 155.97kg, totalling 172.15kg.

“The suspects arrested within the first quarter of 2013 were 18 males and two females,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, has said the agency will  continue to intensify security checks at all exit points in the country.

“The reduction in the quantity of drugs seized is an indication that we are making progress in our search operations.

“We shall continue to improve on our counter-strategies through the use of latest technology in drug control,” Giade said.