The
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed
International Airport (MMIA), Lagos has said that it seized narcotics
weighing 455.215kg between January and June 2015.
NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, in a document made available to Leadership in Lagos yesterday, said the estimated street value of the drugs is N2.8billion, adding that $2.5million cash was equally intercepted while 75 suspected drug traffickers and money launderers were arrested in connection with the seizures.
Umar said the intercepted money included $2.1million seized from a Bureau de Change operator which had been transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
He said 15 arrests were made on Emirates Airline, being the most preferred flight for those apprehended, Qatar Airways had 11 arrests, Ethiopian Airline followed closely with eight arrests and Etihad Airways recorded seven arrests.
The NDLEA commander, while giving the breakdown of the seized drugs, said: “The seized drugs include cannabis sativa 138.304kg, ephedrine 133kg, methamphetamine 93.85kg, cocaine 43.426kg and tramadol 42.025kg.”
“We also seized $2.5million cash within the period. The money includes the $2.1million seized from one Mr. Ibiteye Bamidele who is a Bureau de Change operator as well as other financial seizures amounting to $403,825.”
The commander noted that several modes of concealment adopted by the suspects were detected by the Agency. He said: “22 suspects were arrested for ingesting drugs, 33 were caught with drugs packed inside their luggage while 6 others were found to have packed drugs on their bodies all in a bid to evade arrest.
“39 of the suspects were caught during outward screening attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country. Seven among them were going to China where drug trafficking attracts death penalty. 28 others were apprehended during inward screening operations with 23 of them coming from Brazil.”
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the anti-narcotic Agency, Ahmadu Giade says illicit drug proceeds are highly injurious to the economy and that Nigeria cannot afford to handle drug trafficking with kid gloves.
Giade said: “Illicit funds generated by drug trafficking is colossal. Such proceeds are unaccounted for and constitute a high risk in the coffers of drug syndicates which empowers them to sustain their inimical acts. As a result, we must continue to confront drug trafficking cartels with every sense of seriousness by deploying available resources at our disposal.”
The NDLEA boss assured Nigerians that the Agency is working very hard to dismantle more drug syndicates.
NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, in a document made available to Leadership in Lagos yesterday, said the estimated street value of the drugs is N2.8billion, adding that $2.5million cash was equally intercepted while 75 suspected drug traffickers and money launderers were arrested in connection with the seizures.
Umar said the intercepted money included $2.1million seized from a Bureau de Change operator which had been transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
He said 15 arrests were made on Emirates Airline, being the most preferred flight for those apprehended, Qatar Airways had 11 arrests, Ethiopian Airline followed closely with eight arrests and Etihad Airways recorded seven arrests.
The NDLEA commander, while giving the breakdown of the seized drugs, said: “The seized drugs include cannabis sativa 138.304kg, ephedrine 133kg, methamphetamine 93.85kg, cocaine 43.426kg and tramadol 42.025kg.”
“We also seized $2.5million cash within the period. The money includes the $2.1million seized from one Mr. Ibiteye Bamidele who is a Bureau de Change operator as well as other financial seizures amounting to $403,825.”
The commander noted that several modes of concealment adopted by the suspects were detected by the Agency. He said: “22 suspects were arrested for ingesting drugs, 33 were caught with drugs packed inside their luggage while 6 others were found to have packed drugs on their bodies all in a bid to evade arrest.
“39 of the suspects were caught during outward screening attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country. Seven among them were going to China where drug trafficking attracts death penalty. 28 others were apprehended during inward screening operations with 23 of them coming from Brazil.”
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the anti-narcotic Agency, Ahmadu Giade says illicit drug proceeds are highly injurious to the economy and that Nigeria cannot afford to handle drug trafficking with kid gloves.
Giade said: “Illicit funds generated by drug trafficking is colossal. Such proceeds are unaccounted for and constitute a high risk in the coffers of drug syndicates which empowers them to sustain their inimical acts. As a result, we must continue to confront drug trafficking cartels with every sense of seriousness by deploying available resources at our disposal.”
The NDLEA boss assured Nigerians that the Agency is working very hard to dismantle more drug syndicates.
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