… Arrests 5,000 offenders, convicts 500***

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has recovered 35 wraps of cocaine from a lady passenger at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Mr Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, disclosed this in a statement made available to the newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the suspect, Okafor Ebere Edith was arrested on July 31, during the outward clearance of passengers on Air Cotevoire bound to Monrovia, Liberia.

He said the suspect, who tucked pellet of cocaine in her underwear to beat security checks at the airport, was however picked up for search.

This, he said, included questioning during which the wraps of the illicit drug were found on her.

“During preliminary interview, the suspect claimed that the desire to make money pushed her into drug trafficking,” he said.

Babafemi said the operatives arrested another suspect, Echendu Jerry Maduakolam, an intending male passenger going to Istanbul, at Gate A Departure hall of the MMIA on July 27.

Also read: NDLEA arrests NURTW chairman, others for drug trafficking in Ondo, Benue

He said the suspect was arrested during outward clearance of Egypt Airline bound to Turkey in possession of 78grams of Cannabis mixed with dried bitter leaf.

“On the same day; another intending male passenger, Egbon Osarodion going to Milan, Italy was arrested at the airport’s Gate A Departure hall.

“This was also during outward clearance of passengers on Egypt Airlines with different quantities of 225mg Tramadol and Rohypnol concealed in foil papers wrapped in a polyethylene bag,” he said.

Babafemi disclosed further that NDLEA operatives, Kontagora Area Command, Niger State, raided a warehouse at Mailefe village in Kontagora Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesman said the operation was carried out on July 29, at a warehouse where suspected drug supplies for bandits operating in parts of the state were stored.

“After thorough search of the warehouse, 125 bags of Cannabis Sativa were recovered while a man seen praying in front of the house fled into the forest when he sighted the narcotic officers from afar,” he said.

Babafemi quoted the Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as commending personnel of the MMIA and Niger State Commands.

Marwa lauded their continued efforts in tracking down traffickers of illicit drugs in their areas of responsibility.

He charged them and their counterparts in other commands to remain focused and resolute in pursuit of the goal to rid Nigeria of illicit substances and drug related criminalities.

In the meantime,  the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has arrested no fewer than five thousand suspects and secured 500 convictions between January and May for drug abuse and trafficking.

The agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Marwa, made this known on Saturday in Ibadan at a book launch authored by Retired Brig.-Gen. Larinde Laoye.

The newsmen report that the book is entitled: “Victory In Defeat (The Manifestation Of God’s Power)”.

Marwa said that three thousand offenders had been charged to court, while 2,303 individuals were counselled and treated for drug-related problem within the months under review.

He said that more than two million kilogrammes of assorted drugs were seized and over N90 billion worth of drugs and cash recovered.

The NDLEA boss said that statistics of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking recorded by the agency in the first five months of the year calls for sober reflection.

“These statistics are alarming and are red flags about the need to safeguard the future of the young generation.

“This is to awaken your consciousness to the urgent need for every citizen of Nigeria to support the NDLEA in its efforts to save our country from the menace of abuse and trafficking of illicit substances.

“We must attach some urgency to the need to rid our society of the drug menace, that is why we are advocating a new social order where drug test becomes the norms for couples as part of the wedding rites,” he said.

Marwa said the agency was also advocating for drug test for students that want to gain admission into tertiary institutions and for government employees as part of the employment process and periodic validation of their employment.

He described the author of the book as a very brilliant and a role model worthy of emulation, and called on younger generation to follow the illustrious path of Laoye.

Marwa said that if Laoye had taken to drugs as a young man he would not have achieved what he had achieved.

Laoye said that only God knew why he became a victim of crime he never committed, adding that the book was for the world to hear his own side of the story.

He, therefore, called on Nigerian youths to be focused and believed in God as the only one that could uplift them to a greater height.