NDLEA Seizes Heroin, Khat Worth N10bn At Lagos, Kano Airport

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA seizes heroin and khat worth N10 billion at Lagos and Kano international airports. 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano have intercepted and seized consignments of heroin and khat with a street value of over N10 billion.

At the MMIA, Lagos, during cargo examination at SAHCO Import Shed, a freight agent had presented a cargo from South Africa with an Ethiopian Airline ET 3901 Airway Bill no: 071-40689003. For examination, NDLEA operatives attached to the beat swift to action to check the load’s credibility.

The officers subsequently conducted a search of the cargo. During the activity, a suspected brownish substance was discovered concealed inside a red bag popularly called Ghana-must-go.

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During preliminary interview of the suspect, it was gathered that another freight agent sub-contracted the clearing job to him. Meanwhile, eventually six suspects have so far been arrested in follow up operations. The substance had tested positive to heroin with a total weight of 24.05kg.

Another consignment in the consolidated cargo has also proved to be methamphetamine with a weight of 1.25kg. This brings the total weight of illicit drugs seized in the cargo to 25. 3kg.

Though the cargo arrived the airport in the evening of 16th April, properly searched the following day, 17th, follow up operations leading to a number of arrests lasted till weekend.

According to the Commander, MMIA Command of the Agency, Ahmadu Garba, the heroin and methamphetamine consignments were tagged in different names. This is to deceive our officers but we still uncovered them and neutralised their plot.”

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NDLEA seizes heroin, khat worth N10bn at Lagos, Kano Airport

In a similar development, the MAKIA Command of the Agency in Kano has intercepted and seized a consignment meant for export to Manchester United Kingdom at its Cargo shed. A sample of the suspected substance in the consignment was sent for laboratory analysis. The result came out positive to khat, weighing 36kg. This brings the total weight of illicit drugs seized at the two international airports to 61.3kg.

Mohammed Ajiya, the Ag. Commander, MAKIA Command, said further investigations still ongoing to ascertain the true owners of the illegal consignment.

Chief Executive of the NDLEA commended the efforts of the officers and men of the Lagos and Kano airports Commands of the Agency for not allowing the illicit substances escape their watch either into Nigeria or foreign jurisdictions. He assured them that he would continue to do his best to improve their welfare. He also promised to take the anti-drug law enforcement agency to an enviable height.

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