In collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
global fight against drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria, the Executive
Governor of Lagos State and a stakeholder in the drug war on Monday September,
30, 2013 at the Lagos State Secretariat Alausa, the seat of power in Lagos,
called for serious campaign by all and sundry in the drug war.
Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, didn’t hide his emotion
when he lent his voice to the campaign against drug trafficking and abuse. The
Governor who expressed his disgust over merchants of death, recommended for
stiffer penalty for drug offenders.
Fashola described the relocation of illegal drug production factories from
the State as refreshing. “I am in support of your campaign for stiffer
punishment for drug traffickers. In the face of global insecurity, it is
impossible not to put a sharper focus on the role drugs play in crime. In most
cases, taking human life is done under the influence of drugs. It is therefore
refreshing to note that the perpetrators of these illegal drug laboratories are
relocating from Lagos” Fashola stated.
To show his commitment in the fight of the dreaded business of illicit
drug trafficking, he presented two Toyota Hilux Vehicles to the National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The vehicles are to assist the Agency in
launching attacks on drug traffickers in the State; a gesture that surprised
the entire agency in the State.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade who received the vehicles
at the Lagos State Government House, Alausa from the Chairman, Lagos State
Security Trust Fund, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey said that the discovery of four
Clandestine Laboratories and the arrest of the operators including three
Bolivians in the State had forced the drug syndicates to relocate to other
areas.
According to Giade, the state of Lagos, presents an unusual challenge
for the Agency because of certain characteristics that drug barons find attractive
in the state. Hear him. “Lagos has a large rich population. Besides, the
presence of seaports, airport and land borders are conditions that attract drug
barons”, he stated. “The discovery of four Clandestine Laboratories for
methamphetamine production had forced most of them to relocate from Lagos”.
According to the drug Czar, the intelligence
report at the agency’s disposal concerning the drug barons and their
traffickers revealed that most of the barons are on the run to the other
neighbouring states.
He said the systematic raid operations of the NDLEA operatives on some
dark spots shall be launched against the suspected traffickers and their chief
barons in the state no matter wherever they may hide as the action is
expedient.
The NDLEA boss added that the contribution of the governor marks the
beginning of a long cordial and promising relationship between the Agency and
the Lagos State Government.
According to Giade, the agency was in the state earlier this year to
intimate the governor about the rate of drug trafficking through the state and
that nine months after that report, that the situation has reduced to normalcy.
“I was here in January to inform His Excellency, Governor Fashola of
the drug situation in the State then. The situation today is better and this
donation is the beginning of a fruitful partnership with the Lagos State
Government. I can assure you of a vibrant and promising anti-drug campaign in
the State”, Giade promised the governor.
The Governor said that the donation was in response to logistic
challenges faced by the Agency.
“We are aware of your challenges
and we have approved two vehicles to assist your men in their operational
activities. We are also monitoring because it is a result driven collaboration.
Expect more support from the State if we see positive result in respect of these
two vehicles,” Fashola assured.
Few days after Fashola recommended for stiffer penalties for drug
offenders, 32 year-old textile merchant, Emujue Chimaobi John Paul was arrested
for allegedly hidden 5.745kg of cocaine inside laptop bags on his way from Sao
Paulo, Brazil.
The suspect was apprehended on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed
International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. NDLEA’s operatives who intercepted the
suspect said he was monitored as he tried to evade the preying eyes of the
agency men stationed at the departure hall. This followed with the prompt
detection of the drug by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
during the inward screening of Etihad flight passengers.
NDLEA says the cocaine is estimated to be in the street value of
fifty-seven million naira (N57, 000,000).
NDLEA Commander, Hamza Umar described the mode of concealment as
ingenious.
“If not for the painstaking efforts of officers the drug suspect would
have escaped arrest. The cocaine was ingeniously packed in laptop bags such
that we had to cut the bags open to detect the drug”, Hamza Umar quipped.
He stated that investigation had commenced into the case and that the
suspect who hails from Anambra State will soon be charged to court.
Mitchell Ofoyeju, the NDLEA Public Relations Officer hinted that the
suspect confessed being a secondary school dropped from Junior Secondary School
(JSSI) in 1988.
In his statement, Emujue Chimaobi John Paul allegedly said that it was
frustration that made him to venture into drug smuggling.
“I am a textile merchant. Since 2003, I have been dealing in textiles
in Togo. In 2011, I relocated to Brazil in search of greener pastures.
Unfortunately, my business did not flourish as I had expected. In fact, I was
even living from hand to mouth. I was told that I could make enough money from
drug trafficking to invest in my business. That was how I was convinced to give
it a trial and I was arrested in the process,” Emujue stated.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade commended the officers for
the arrest. “The Agency will continue to arrest drug traffickers and charge
them to court. This arrest is commendable. Members of the public must note that
it is wrong to raise capital from drug trafficking because anyone that ventures
into the criminal act will end up regretting in jail,” Giade warned.
The anti-drug boss also urged stakeholders to partner with the Agency
in fighting against drug trafficking, money laundering and related crimes.
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