NDLEA Intercepts 227.055kg Of Drugs At MMIA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has intercepted 227.055 kilogrammes of drugs at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos in the first half of this year.

The Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar who disclosed this to newsmen said the drugs which were seized from 63 suspected traffickers between January and June, 2012 at the Lagos airport had been estimated at N2.5 billion.

He gave the breakdown of the seized drugs as follows: cannabis, 72.35kg; Methamphetamine, 46.25kg; cocaine, 43.505kg; heroin, 33.15kg and ephedrine, 31.8kg.

He explained that a total of 63 suspected drug traffickers were apprehended between January and June, 2012, adding male suspects were 53 while female suspects were 10.

“The command also recorded two abandoned seizures within the period under review. The first was 16 kg of heroin in April and 160 grammes of Methamphetamine in June”, he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Ahmadu Giade said that the agency would continue to financially incapacitate drug traffickers through prompt seizures of drugs.

According to him, “the efforts of the NDLEA are better appreciated when drug seizures are computed and analysed.

The cherring news is that we have taken away the sum of N2.5 billion worth of drugs in our local market estimates from drug barons”.

“In international markets, this value could be five times higher. The agency will continue to enhance peace and safety through regular drug seizures and prosecution of drug offenders”, he added.

The NDLEA boss stated that with improved funding, better logistics and enhanced welfare package for officers they would surpass current results in the days ahead.

He also appealed to members of the public to be active stakeholders in the figtht against drug trafficking in the country.

Among those arrested was a 48-year-old woman, Mande Fatima Bala who set a new record in Narcotic smuggling in the country by inserting 66 wraps of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine, weighing one kilogramme in her private part as she attempted to board a Kenyan Airways flight to Nairobi.