NDLEA’s N6.1billion drug haul at Lagos airport
THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seized drugs worth N6.1billion from 291 suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos between January 2010 and September this year.
The drugs weighed a total of 612.68 kilogrammes - the weight of seven men of at least 85kg each.
These facts were obtained by our correspondent from the NDLEA against the backdrop of recent cases of drug trafficking at the airport.
The agency is surprised that traffickers are becoming more daring by smuggling drugs to countries with capital punishment for such a crime.
The United States, Britain, Germany, France, and South Africa top the list of nations assisting the agency to crack drug cartels in the country.
Airport Commander of the Agency, Hamza Umar said “In 2010, the command intercepted 200 drug suspects including 172 male and 28 female with 399.431kg of drugs consisting of 237.5kg of cocaine, 44.907kg of heroin, 42.050kg of cannabis, 74.755kg of methamphetamine/amphetamine and 0.240 grammes of other psychotropic substances”.
“Similarly, between January and September 2011 a total of 91 drug suspects comprising 81 male and 10 female were apprehended for trafficking 213.249kg of narcotics consisting 79.696kg of cocaine, 21.705kg of heroin, 57.705kg of cannabis, 44.723kg methamphetamine/amphetamine and 9.400kg of other psychotropic substances.
“The pattern of drug seizures here at the airport since inception is that little quantity of drugs is smuggled at a time unlike at the seaports where our entire annual seizure can be made in one fell swoop.
The 14,200kg of cocaine made at the Tin Can Port in 2006, the 450.400kg of cocaine also intercepted at the Lagos sea port and others is a pointer to the fact that while we do our best here at the airport, our colleagues at the seaports will also continue with the good work aimed at dismantling drug barons.”
The report added: “The little quantities of narcotics smuggled by suspects at the airport could empower drug cartels because eventually when added together they become substantial.
“Some of the success strategies of the command include good working relations with international partners like the United States, Britain, Germany, France, South Africa and many others. The security agencies, airline operators, and airport staff have also contributed to the successful operations of the Agency.
The Airport Commander gave further details regarding how drug traffickers were arrested.
He said most of the suspects ingested the hard drugs to beat NDLEA: “Some traffickers hide the drugs in their luggage using various ways. The drug could be hidden in the metal handles of the bag, in false bottom or side compartments industrially. Other items used include clothes, garden sheers, hand trowels, car shock absolvers, bronze castings, bags and food stuffs to mention a few. Still we are able to uncover the drugs”.
“Female traffickers have used their hair and even insert drugs in their private parts all in a bid to smuggle drugs. The age of the suspects also cuts across the young, middle age and the aged. The tricks of drug barons appear endless as the Agency recently discovered clothes soaked in cocaine from a woman that arrived from Brazil.
“The Agency is also worried about the level of desperation of some drug traffickers. “We find it worrisome that young traffickers smuggle drugs to Malaysia and other countries where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.
“Many have been prevented from such suicide missions and we keep apprehending more people on these routes. Unfortunately, we have also recorded deaths from drug ingestion. When there is a leakage in the wraps of ingested drugs, the courier can barely last the next one hour. This is the reality of the obnoxious trade in narcotics.”
He listed the challenges of the Airport Command to include shortage of operational vehicles, inadequate funding and absence of other tools that will further make the job of drug interdiction more effective.
THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seized drugs worth N6.1billion from 291 suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos between January 2010 and September this year.
The drugs weighed a total of 612.68 kilogrammes - the weight of seven men of at least 85kg each.
These facts were obtained by our correspondent from the NDLEA against the backdrop of recent cases of drug trafficking at the airport.
The agency is surprised that traffickers are becoming more daring by smuggling drugs to countries with capital punishment for such a crime.
The United States, Britain, Germany, France, and South Africa top the list of nations assisting the agency to crack drug cartels in the country.
Airport Commander of the Agency, Hamza Umar said “In 2010, the command intercepted 200 drug suspects including 172 male and 28 female with 399.431kg of drugs consisting of 237.5kg of cocaine, 44.907kg of heroin, 42.050kg of cannabis, 74.755kg of methamphetamine/amphetamine and 0.240 grammes of other psychotropic substances”.
“Similarly, between January and September 2011 a total of 91 drug suspects comprising 81 male and 10 female were apprehended for trafficking 213.249kg of narcotics consisting 79.696kg of cocaine, 21.705kg of heroin, 57.705kg of cannabis, 44.723kg methamphetamine/amphetamine and 9.400kg of other psychotropic substances.
“The pattern of drug seizures here at the airport since inception is that little quantity of drugs is smuggled at a time unlike at the seaports where our entire annual seizure can be made in one fell swoop.
The 14,200kg of cocaine made at the Tin Can Port in 2006, the 450.400kg of cocaine also intercepted at the Lagos sea port and others is a pointer to the fact that while we do our best here at the airport, our colleagues at the seaports will also continue with the good work aimed at dismantling drug barons.”
The report added: “The little quantities of narcotics smuggled by suspects at the airport could empower drug cartels because eventually when added together they become substantial.
“Some of the success strategies of the command include good working relations with international partners like the United States, Britain, Germany, France, South Africa and many others. The security agencies, airline operators, and airport staff have also contributed to the successful operations of the Agency.
The Airport Commander gave further details regarding how drug traffickers were arrested.
He said most of the suspects ingested the hard drugs to beat NDLEA: “Some traffickers hide the drugs in their luggage using various ways. The drug could be hidden in the metal handles of the bag, in false bottom or side compartments industrially. Other items used include clothes, garden sheers, hand trowels, car shock absolvers, bronze castings, bags and food stuffs to mention a few. Still we are able to uncover the drugs”.
“Female traffickers have used their hair and even insert drugs in their private parts all in a bid to smuggle drugs. The age of the suspects also cuts across the young, middle age and the aged. The tricks of drug barons appear endless as the Agency recently discovered clothes soaked in cocaine from a woman that arrived from Brazil.
“The Agency is also worried about the level of desperation of some drug traffickers. “We find it worrisome that young traffickers smuggle drugs to Malaysia and other countries where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.
“Many have been prevented from such suicide missions and we keep apprehending more people on these routes. Unfortunately, we have also recorded deaths from drug ingestion. When there is a leakage in the wraps of ingested drugs, the courier can barely last the next one hour. This is the reality of the obnoxious trade in narcotics.”
He listed the challenges of the Airport Command to include shortage of operational vehicles, inadequate funding and absence of other tools that will further make the job of drug interdiction more effective.
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