Chairman/Chief
Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade
said that no fewer than 20 suspected drug traffickers (19 Nigerians and a
Ghanaian) was prevented by the Agency from exporting drugs to countries with
capital punishment for drugs since January 2014. Sixteen of the suspects were
apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while four
others including a Ghanaian were caught at the Akanu Ibiam International
Airport (AIIA) Enugu. Their final destinations are Malaysia, China and Thailand
where drug trafficking is punishable by death.
NDLEA
boss while commiserating with the families of the executed drug convicts urged stakeholders
to intensify anti-drug abuse campaign efforts. “I sincerely sympathise with the
families of the executed drug convicts. This is a moment of sober reflection on
the illicit activities of drug trafficking syndicates. This brings to the fore the
bigger picture of those in foreign prisons, those arrested here and others preparing
to smuggle drugs. It is a wakeup call for stakeholders to step up their counter-narcotics
efforts. Apart from drug trafficking being a criminal act, narcotic smuggling poses
a serious threat to public health and safety. While many people are rendered
comatose from drug abuse, others including top celebrities had died prematurely
on account of drug addiction” Giade stated.
He
added that individuals, families, groups and institutions at various levels
must take responsibility in preventing illicit drug production, trafficking and
abuse. According to him, “the NDLEA has one of the highest criminal convictions
in the country. In 2014, we won the conviction of 2,054 drug offenders. As we work
very hard to reduce cases of illicit drug trafficking, it is imperative for
individuals and groups to take steps aimed at preventing their loved ones from
getting involved in drug abuse and trafficking”.
A
total of 106,914kg of various narcotic drugs was seized from 20 drug suspects
who were saved from execution abroad. While 83.08kg of drugs was seized at the
Lagos airport, 23.834kg of drugs was seized at the Enugu airport. The breakdown
of the drugs includes 89.024kg of cannabis, 9.375kg of methamphetamine, 3.450kg
of amphetamine, 2.89kg of heroin and 2.175kg of cocaine.
The
only Ghanaian among the suspects, Musa Idrisa also known as Charles Udenehi was
going to Bangkok, Thailand with 450 grammes of cocaine he had ingested. Three females
are also among those apprehended. They are Chidinma Deborah Okafor a
professional dancer caught with 3.450kg of amphetamine hidden in a pair of
Jeans trousers while attempting to board a flight to Malaysia. Eze Ifeoma Maureen
was caught with 6.200kg of cannabis on her way to China while Alade Muyinotu
was found with 1.725kg of cocaine and 1.715kg of heroin on her way to China.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
08034088136
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