Student nabbed for drug running

Neither had he succeeded as a student nor as an altar boy in one of the churches that dot the streets of Nigeria, that he was affected by his boyish simplicity and the frankness of an old frontier habit of a child.

So he approached and played his new found money- making -deal with the naive delight of a boy and walked straight into the waiting hands of the security agents fighting drug trafficking.

That was how a twenty year-old undergraduate of a University in Nigeria ended his academic dream.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says they apprehended Udiomeh Kufre Ita at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos for importing 1.745 kilogrammes of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis popularly called Indian hemp in joint parlance.

The suspect was found in possession of the drug during the inward screening of passengers on an Africa World Airlines flight from Accra, Ghana at the weekend.

NDLEA Lagos Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar said that the drug was detected during routine screening of passengers.

“An undergraduate student was found in possession of two parcels of cannabis weighing 1.745kg during routine search of passengers”, Hamza said. “The drug was hidden inside his bag containing personal effects. He was immediately arrested and the case is under investigation”.

The suspect who reportedly gained admission into the faculty of Management Sciences at the Regent University is currently assisting narcotic investigators assigned to the case.

In his confessional statement, Udiomeh Kufre Ita said that he used his tuition fees in purchasing the drug found on him.

According to the suspect,

“I spent my school fees on cell phone, smoking hemp and attending night clubs. I bought a cell phone for N107, 000 and spent my school fees recklessly. I thought I could make enough profit from the sale of cannabis to offset the deficit in my tuition”, he cried. “I bought each parcel of hemp for 220 Ghana cedi. I did not know what came over me and I am afraid to go to my parents. My father is a retiree”.

Kufre Ita hails from Akwa-Ibom State but grew up in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade described the action of the student as shameful and sad. Quoting Giade in his words, “this is very shameful and sad. It shows that the suspect is morally bankrupt. Students must understand that drug use is inimical to the pursuit of their academic goals,” Giade stated.

The NDLEA boss called on members of the public to avoid drug use and support the fight against drugs.

 “Abstinence from drug use is the best solution but those who have problem with drug use should please seek professional help before it is too late. Let us support the anti-drug campaign for a peaceful and fulfilled life,” Giade added.

Mitchell Ofoyeju told Daily Newswatch that the suspect would be placed on counselling and may likely be charged to court for unlawful importation of cannabis.

In another development, NDLEA spokesman said the Lagos State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in 2013 arrested 490 suspected drug traffickers comprising 439 males and 51 females. According to him, 79 offenders were convicted for drug related crimes while 128 cases are pending in court.

It was gathered that a total of 9,163.963kg of narcotic drugs mainly cannabis also known as marijuana were seized from drug traffickers within the State.

Lagos State Commander, Mr Sule Aliyu who gave the breakdown of the seized drugs said that no fewer than 320 drug addicts were successfully counselled during the period under review. He said. “The seized drugs include cannabis 9,047.675kg, psychotropic substances 78.15kg, methamphetamine 33.734kg, heroin 2.703kg and cocaine 1.701kg”. 

According to Sule, the command is confronted with the challenge of cannabis use among youths and illegal methamphetamine production laboratories.

“We are making steady progress in tackling the abuse of cannabis among youths in the State as well as tracing methamphetamine production factories in Lagos. The large cannabis seizure made in 2013 and the illegal drug factories uncovered in residential areas within Lagos require active participation of stakeholders in drug control programmes,” the Commander stated.

Last year, the Command claimed that the Lagos Command carried out community mobilisation and enlightenment efforts in 2013.

These, he said include the establishment of drug free clubs in schools, anti-drug awareness campaigns at motor parks, churches and mosques.

Speaking on the Command’s plan for 2014, Sule said that he hopes to surpass and build on past records. He also added that the proposed ban on public smoking would help in advancing the fight against cannabis abuse in the State. 

The NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade has expressed satisfaction with Governor Babatunde Fashola’s commitment to partner with the Agency in eradicating illicit drugs from Lagos State.

“I am happy with the prompt response of the Governor to the discovery of Clandestine Laboratories in the State. The provision of two operational vehicles to the Lagos command in 2013 and established a committee to address the problem of methamphetamine production laboratories by the State Government is an appreciation of our efforts,” Giade stated.

The NDLEA boss warned that the Agency would launch constant attacks on importers and dealers of precursor chemicals used for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The anti-drug agency promised to work with stakeholders in making Lagos State and Nigeria drug-free.

 NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade said the Agency will continue to partner with the Army and other security organizations. In his words, “the support of Army Commander in charge of 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade has aided the successful raid of sensitive locations like Akala and Akerele Agege, Lagos”.

Giade called for the assistance of government and private sector in finding a lasting solution to the drug abuse problem. According to him, “we need the support of government and private sector in the construction of an ultra-modern rehabilitation Centre in Lagos. This is needed to effectively address the problem of drug abuse in the State. The Agency is also working very hard to prevent drug supply to the State”. The NDLEA boss also called on parents to inculcate discipline in their children.

It would be recall that in September, the Lagos State Governor Babatunde; Raji Fashola supported the Lagos State Command with logistics in the global fight against drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.

 The Executive Governor of Lagos State and the stakeholders 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.  

 Last year, Fashola 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 and 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.

 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. 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.

NDLEA Chairman 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.

 Last year June, the agency in conjunction with the Nigerian Army, the police and other security agencies ransack the entire Lagos metropolis, and by the time the raid ended in that month, huge illicit drugs of 3,166.15kg were seized while 47 suspects were arrested.

The joint operation embarked upon in November was also successful as 15 suspected drug traffickers were apprehended with 680.266kg of narcotic drugs mainly cannabis. Among the recovered drugs were 316 grammes of methamphetamine and 200 grammes of heroin while others are cannabis.

 The areas covered by the raid are Akala and Akerele Agege, Lagos.

The NDLEA Lagos Commander, Mr Aliyu Sule said that the operation was in response to intelligence report received on the affected locations.

“We daily collect and process information on the activities of drug traffickers and conduct raid when it is expedient. The total weight of drugs seized is 680.266kg. Those apprehended are being investigated and very soon they will be charged to court” Aliyu stated.

The Army Commander in charge of 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade has assured the NDLEA that he will always provide army officers whenever their support is required. In his words, “the Nigeria Army will continue to lend its support to the anti-drug campaign. The level of success anytime we go on joint operations encourages us to deepen our relationship with the NDLEA” Oyebade stated. NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade thanked the Brigade Commander for his continuous support to the Agency. “The support from the Nigeria Army is commendable. We shall continue to conduct similar raid operations on locations where drugs are sold and abused. This partnership with the Army shall be sustained and strengthened. NDLEA commander in the State, Mr. Sule described drug abuse in Lagos as alarming. According to Sule, “the problem of drug abuse in the State is alarming. Between January and October the command arrested 420 drug traffickers comprising 387 males and 33 females.