The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA has seized 507.936 kilogrammes of illicit drugs worth over 2.2 billion naira in nine months at the Murtalla Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The breakdown of the drugs seized between January and November shows that cocaine has the highest quantity with 172.930 kilogrammes, cannabis is next with 170.554 kilogrammes, psychotropic substances 121.100 kilogrammes while heroin is 43.352 kilogrammes. A total of 139 suspected drug traffickers were arrested within the period under review comprising of 127 males and 12 females. The month of July has the highest seizure of 135.066 kilogrammes with 15 arrests while in February 19.04 kilogrammes of drugs were seized with 13 arrests.
In his reaction, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade vowed to make drug trafficking unattractive and encourage the principle of diligence. “It has become pertinent that we daily increase our commitment to the anti-narcotic campaign as every seizure made translates to incapacitation of drug syndicates. If we fail to stop the drug barons, deny them of the illicit proceeds and place a commensurate sanction on them, we will end up aggravating the problem of moral decadence in the society” Giade stated. While calling for more public support in the Agency’s drive for a crime free society, he warned drug barons that the Agency will go the extra mile in halting the obnoxious trade in narcotics and psychotropic substances.
The oldest among the suspects is 64 year old Folayan Elizabeth, a mother of seven that ingested 1.060 kg of cocaine. She was arrested on November 17, 2009 during screening of passengers on Iberia flight. The youngest suspect, 19 year old student, Adetola Odufuwa studying in Cyprus was nabbed on August 23, 2009 with 5.050 kg of cannabis concealed in powdered milk container in his luggage.
One Ukoh John Ifeanyi, 45 year old business man however broke Agency’s record on April 4, 2009 when he excreted 3.349 kilogrammes of cocaine on his way to Germany. Ukoh John is the first suspect to ingest a whopping 3.349 kg of narcotic drug in the history of Nigeria’s drug control.
