NDLEA seizes 200kg of hard drugs at Lagos, Abuja, Kano airports

Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it simultaneously seized 200 kilograms of illicit substances at the Lagos, Kano and Abuja airports last week. Its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja. An Exit from Boko Haram? Assessing Nigeria’s Operation Safe Corridor Free education […]

Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it simultaneously seized 200 kilograms of illicit substances at the Lagos, Kano and Abuja airports last week.

Its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.

• An Exit from Boko Haram? Assessing Nigeria’s Operation Safe Corridor
• Free education policy: Good intention, teething problems in Kano

He stated that a 41-year-old Adewuyi Olayinka was arrested while trying to export 650 grams of cocaine to the United Kingdom.

The drugs were wrapped in two parcels arranged to be taken through the Skyway Aviation Handling Company export shed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

“The drugs were concealed in dry pepper and in herbal concoction. In the same vein, 107kg of hard drug suspected to be Khat was seized at the cargo shed of the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, while being exported to Canada.

“The drug, which weighed 107kg, was concealed in golden colour cellophane bags covered with textile materials and labelled as tea with a view to deceive and mislead our officers.

“The so-called tea rose the suspicion of officers at the cargo shed who insisted that it must be subjected to laboratory analysis before it will be allowed to go.

“This is because the so-called tea came from Lagos by road to Kano and our operatives wondered why the owner did not use the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

“The shipment was delayed until sample was taken to our forensic laboratory for analysis. The result came out positive for Khat. It has since been seized and is now in our custody,’’ he said.

Babafemi also said an attempt by a trafficker to export 92.250kg of Khat using the Abuja airport was frustrated

He added that the hard drug was packed in six cartons heading to Goussainville in France and had been confiscated.

He said the clearing agent processing the consignment for export claimed the cargo was dried moringa leaves, but upon laboratory tests, it turned out to be hard drug. (NAN)