Clearing agents in a messy drug running

No fewer than six clearing agents have been arrested in the last three months at the MMIA.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on weekend discovered three kilogrammes of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine inside female hair attachment.  Then anti-narcotic officials detected the drugs at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), cargo shed section of the MMIA, Lagos.

The drug was alleged to be on its way to South Africa.

It was through discreet investigation that the NDLEA Airport commander, Mr. Hamza Umar discovered the cartel behind the exportation of the illicit ‘wares’.

He said that the Agency apprehended a 37 year-old freight forwarder in connection with the illicit shipment.

“We have arrested a 37 year-old forwarding agent by name; Mark Udegbulun who brought a consignment of female artificial hair for shipment to South Africa. During examination of the bag, nine of the packs were found to contain parcels of substance that tested positive for methamphetamine hidden inside the artificial hair. He is currently being investigated”.

The Airport commander added that the discovery was made barely few days after a suspected drug trafficking syndicate abandoned five kilogrammes of heroin which was hidden inside a shipment of praying rugs from Pakistan.

It was gathered that during interrogation of the suspect, Udegbulun told narcotic investigators that he collected the bag containing the drug at Yaba area of Lagos from his friend who was also his ‘good customer’.

“I personally received the shipment from my friend and customer at Yaba, Lagos. He paid me to send the bag to South Africa as unaccompanied cargo. Unfortunately, while the officers were searching the bag, the drug was found inside nine of the packs of hair attachment”, Udegbulun stated.

Udegbulun claimed to have come from Nnewi, in Anambra State.

Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade assured members of the public that the Agency would continue to discover hidden drugs and prosecute offenders under the Agency’s Act.

“Each time we discover drugs, officers are happy because it is a reward for hard work. We shall continue to discover hidden drugs and charge drug traffickers to court”, he assured.

The NDLEA chairman also called for more public support in the campaign to eradicate illicit drugs in the country.

The suspect would be charged to court on completion of his investigation. It was gathered that his customer was on the run and has switched off his phones.

NDLEA source explained that the suspect was aware of the drugs and that it may not be his first time of shipping illicit drugs for his ‘customer’.

NDLEA and NCAA on June 14, 2013 at a seminar organized by the two government agencies and cargo consolidator-- Greater Washington Logistics for cargo agents operating within the country, warned the agents to desist from moving dangerous and prohibited goods within or outside the nation.

In the seminar, the two government agencies urged the agents to painstakingly check any good handed over to them before clearing such goods. The agencies also added that the agents’ failure to comply with the order, might lead to their prosecution.

Mr Austin Eboigbe, the Safety Inspector of NCAA, advised the cargo agents to report any suspicious cargo to the appropriate authorities.

According to him, the agency is currently investigating incidents relating to dangerous goods carried within the country by some agents.

Eboigbe added that such dangerous goods, included fireworks, lighter, gas cooker, body spray and magnets and drugs.

He warned that the agency would not hesitate to withdraw the licence of any agent or sanction any airline found wanting.

Mr Nasir Kotangora, the Head of NDLEA at the Murtula Mohammed Airport, Lagos, said that drugs were dangerous goods, which could cause harm to the aircraft.

“As agents, you are expected to crosscheck properly any luggage you collect for shipment.

“Dangerous goods for shipment should be accompanied with the required papers.

“Any powder you are collecting should be subjected to forensic analysis.

It is the responsibility of all to ensure total security within the airports,” he said.

Mr Agbongban Bright, the Group Head, Regional Business and Cargo Shed Manager, Greater Washington Logistics, said that the company organised the seminar to sensitise the agents on the shipment of dangerous goods.

Bright urged the agents to always follow safety standards and practice as lay down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Air Transport Association.

“In recent times, we have had cases of some agents who ignorantly shipped items that constituted dangerous goods, which the agency had to identify because it was not known to the agents. We see that this has become a recurring issue and we need to organise a seminar like this to create awareness among the agents on what constitute dangerous goods,” he said.

In January, NDLEA arrested three customs licensed clearing and forwarding agents and a motorcycle parts dealer for allegedly aiding in shipping in illicit drugs into the country.

The suspects are being interrogated in connection with three shipments of methamphetamine meant for export to Malaysia on an Ethiopian Airways flight at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

NDLEA says the drug weighing 70.4kg has an estimated street value of N352 million.

The names of the three agents released by the NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, are Adewuyi Segun, 45 years, Atebata Godwin, 27 years and Akpaida Kareem Ajayi, 33 years. A 36 year old motorcycle parts dealer at Nnewi, Anambra State Ukpabi Paul, was also arrested.

 “The methamphetamine consignments include 32.7kg which was brought by Adewuyi Segun; there was another 20kg which was brought by Ukpabi Paul. Akpaida Kareem Ajayi as well Atebata Godwin brought 17.7kg. All the suspects are cooperating with investigators”, Umar stated.

Ukpabi Paul hails from Imo State but sells motorcycle parts at Nnewi.

“I am married and have three children. My role was to give the drug to a clearing agent, by name Akpaida Kareem Ajayi. Please, be merciful on me, it is my first time”, Akpaida Kareem Ajayi in his statement blamed his involvement on greed and desire to make quick money. “I have myself to blame because they paid me N500, 000 to send the shipment”, he stated.

 “I agreed to participate in the illegal deal because of the half a million naira that I was offered”.

 Akpaida Kareem and Atebata Godwin are from Edo State while Adewuyi Segun hails from Oyo State.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said those who engage in criminal acts should expect the ‘Day of Judgment’.

“It is sad that these customs licensed agents have acted contrary to the NDLEA Act in pursuit of selfish and criminal interest. The Agency will continue to make drug trafficking unattractive”, Giade, NDLEA boss said.

The arrest exposed how Clearing agents played key roles in the criminal acts of drug deal in Nigeria using boutique business as a hoax in smuggling illicit drugs.

All the suspects involved in the illicit transaction starting from the barons to the clearing agents are being on trial by anti-drug agents.

Ahmadu Giade, the drug Czar had vowed to unveil drug barons and Clearing agents with more offensive in the offing. Giade commended the officers over what he described as ‘proactive and thorough investigation’. According to the NDLEA boss,

“This is a model case where officers displayed a rare investigative dexterity. All parties to the crime were successfully arrested. Several other cases under intense surveillance are near completion and more barons shall be unveiled. My operational promise to Nigerians is that they will soon know those behind the illicit trade and also see them brought to book”.

Alhaji Hamza Umar gave the name of the Clearing and forwarding agent as Andrew Omoigui, 38, while other suspected drug barons are Monday Paul Edeh, 38, a.k.a. Molue, Chidi Ugbaja, 33, and Marcel Chibueze Udeze, 36.

Preliminary findings by the anti-narcotic agent linked the suspects to a notorious drug trafficking cabal operating in the country with affiliates in Pakistan.

The suspected kingpin of the drug syndicate, Marcel Chibueze Udeze was equally found to have been deported from China twice.

He conspired with Chidi Ugbaja who once lived in China and Monday Paul Edeh to import the drug. Andrew was said to have demanded for the sum of one million naira to clear the goods having been told that the consignment contained heroin.

Daily Newswatch gathered that the money was however paid into his bank account.

Andrew was a senior Clearing and Forwarding agent with over 14 years experience. Other members of the drug-mafia gang operate boutique business as a cover-up.

As that wasn’t enough, in 2012, Ahmadu Giade said three Clearing agents were arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, and Lagos for trying to export drugs.

Giade, through Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, head of the agency's Public Affairs, said that the agents were arrested in connection with illicit drugs. According to Ofoyeju, Giade had advised Clearing agents nationwide to properly know their customers, adding that the law would run its full course on them if they were found wanting.

Giade said the three agents arrested were workers of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), adding that they were apprehended for attempting to smuggle two consignments of methamphetamine on an Emirates flight to Malaysia.

He added that the drugs, weighing 36.44kg, were concealed in foodstuffs and laptop bags, and declared as personal effects by the consignor

“Following the discovery of the drug, we arrested three clearing agents and they are currently being interrogated. The total weight of methamphetamine found in both packages is 36.44kg”, he stated.

“The first consignment of methamphetamine hidden in garri, dry fish and yams, weighed 6.95kg, while the second weighing 29.48kg was hidden in laptop bags”.

Giade said that the agents were expected to take necessary precautionary measures, such as knowing their customers and checking any consignment for shipment.

He noted that the Agency would continue to prosecute Clearing agents whenever drugs are detected in the cargo they are processing. NDLEA however dismissed the claim by the Clearing agents that they thought the drug was drug-free cargoes.

It was further learnt that another Clearing agent who aides suspected drug trafficking syndicate had abandoned five kilogrammes of high grade heroin at the MMIA, Lagos. The drug was hidden inside praying rugs imported from Pakistan. Narcotic officers made the discovery during inward screening of cargoes on Qatar Airline flight. The Agency also arrested a 29 year old man, Osigwe Kelvin Uchenna for ingesting nine wraps of methamphetamine weighing 400 grammes at the airport.

NDLEA Airport commander, Mr.Hamza Umar said that the examination of the consignment was witnessed by other security agents. “The consignment was given 100 per cent physical examination in the presence of customs and other security agents. During the search, we found thirty-five (35) sachets of brown powdery substance that tested positive for heroin concealed inside praying rugs. A trader was also arrested for ingesting methamphetamine” Hamza stated.

The suspect, Osigwe Kelvin Uchenna lives in Gabon. He tested positive for drug ingestion. While he was under observation, he excreted nine wraps of methamphetamine weighing 400 grammes.

“This is my first time of smuggling drugs. I feel sad because my pastor warned me against crime. He told me that I will be successful in life but I must avoid drug trafficking, fraud and other crimes in order to actualise God’s plan for my life”, Osuigwe explained. The suspect who is a primary school certificate holder is single and hails from Imo State.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Giade said that Nigeria is winning the drug war against all odds.

“Nigeria is winning the anti-narcotic crusade against all odds. Drug cartels only abandon their drugs when the operating environment is inclement. This is a sign of effective security checks which is good for the country. The NDLEA will continue to intercept drugs through advance surveillance techniques,” he stated. The NDLEA boss who ordered an investigation into the cases assured that all suspects arrested would be charged to court.

Clearing and forwarding agents are becoming a serious issue to handle in the fight against drug war by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Despite repeated warnings and solicitations by the agency to the agents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State to report suspected cargoes and luggage for proper screening to the NDLEA, the agents have not heeded the pleas.

Last month, the agency beamed their search light on the group following several arrests connecting the agents to an alleged drug peddling and huge money launderings being perpetrated by the cargo managers at the airports.