… Seizes London-bound Meth consignment at Lagos Airport***

… Arrest 774 suspects, seize 3,874.3kgs of drugs in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau***

The Apapa Area Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said it seized 19,703.25 kgs of hard drugs, worth over N6 billion between January and June 20.

Its Commander, Mr Ameh Inalegwu, disclosed this to the newsmen in Lagos on Saturday.

Also read: Hard Drugs: NDLEA counsels parents in Apapa, seizes 1,471kg hard drugs, arrests 218 suspects in Imo

He said that the command was ready to curb the menace of illegal drug dealers in the nation’s maritime space.

” This is already validated by the numerous seizures recorded in few months,”  Inalegwu said.

” The drugs seized within seven days included 1,518kgs of Tafrodol and Tramadol weighing 3,553 kilograms.

” This is in addition to the seizures of cough syrup with Codeine in January, 40.25 Kgs of the same cough syrup with Codeine in February, 12 kgs of another cough syrup with Codeine in March.

” The command also recovered 350 grams of Cocaine and 150 grams of Heroin in March.

“In summary, the command recorded a total seizure of 19,703.25kgs of assorted illicit drugs between January and June 20,” he said.

”Operation of the command in maritime corridor saddled it with the responsibility of waging war against drug cartels.

”NDLEA is mindful of the status of the seaport as a gateway and the limitless opportunities it offered to ship hard drugs in large volumes.

” The volumes that far outstrip what can be smuggled in through land or air transportation.

“However, NDLEA would make the port impregnable for the cartels,” he emphasized.

Inalegwu commended the NDLEA chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, for rekindling the war against drug cartels.

In the meantime, NDLEA has arrested a suspected drug kingpin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos for allegedly behind attempts to export 40 parcels of Methamphetamine to London.

NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, stated in Abuja on Sunday that the suspect was arrested on Saturday after three weeks of painstaking investigation and tracking by NDLEA’s operatives.

He alleged that the consignment went through the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc. (NAHCO) export shed of the airport.

Babafemi stated also that the suspect was arrested at Manacola Estate, Alakuko area of Lagos three weeks after his drug consignment weighing 2.05kg was intercepted at the airport.

His freight agent was arrested on June 7.

“During interrogation, the suspect said he is from Ahiazu, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo and had lived in Dubai, for 10 years before returning to Nigeria in 2019.

“He said that after his return to Nigeria, he opened a phone accessories shop in Sango Ota, Ogun state but the business collapsed.

“He then started sending cigarettes to London and decided to conceal the illicit drug in the consignment after advice by a friend,’’ Babafemi stated.

He added that closely related to the arrest was the seizure of another consignment of 2kg of Methamphetamine at a courier house in Owerri.

The cargo was seized on June 22 in two cylindrical cellophanes concealed in fabrics headed for Hong Kong.

“Also at the Lagos Airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted 500,000 pieces of 225mg tablets of Tramadol packed in 10 cartons and labelled `Tramaking’ imported from Karachi, Pakistan, on Emirates Airline.

“The consignment weighing 407.6kg was seized during a joint examination by Customs Service and NAFDAC officials.

“On the same day, a Dubai, UAE-bound passenger, Alegbeleye Taiwo, was arrested at the Lagos Airport with 40 ampoules of pentazocine injections.

“The 21-year-old suspect claims he’s from Osun,’’ he stated.

In the same vein, NDLEA arrested 774 suspects and seized 3,874.3kgs of various narcotics and psychotropic substances in Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau in the first half of 2022.

The three states make the Zone D of the narcotics agency.

Umoru Ambrose, Zonal Commander in the zone said this in Lafia on Sunday while marking the 2022 UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

He said 134 drug suspects were prosecuted during the period, while 378 drug users were counselled and rehabilitated.

He added that states in the zone had intensified their operations in the War against Drug Abuse and sensitization.

Ambrose called on all stakeholders to get involved in curbing drug menace in the zone.

In his remarks, Peter Odaudu, NDLEA Commander in Nasarawa State, said the celebrations underscored the need for access to proper treatment for people with drug disorders.

He stressed that the war against drugs must be intensified in Nasarawa State especially given its position as the second highest drug prevalence state in the North Central after Kwara.

“Statistics from the 2018 drug survey showed a very alarming trend, the involvement of females in drug issues.

“We have at least one female out of every four drug users; this development is worrisome and must be reversed,’’ he said.

Odaudu thanked Nasarawa State’s Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his support for the NDLEA and solicited urgent intervention in the provision of operational vehicles and the construction of a rehabilitation centre.

Guest speaker, Mr. Nwora Okpalaeke, who is coordinator of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria in Nasarawa State, said 494,000 users died of drug abuse in 2019.

He spoke on “Illicit Drugs in Health and Humanitarian Crises.’’

He said drug abusers suffered liver cirrhosis, stroke, hepatitis, kidney and heart failure, noting that 14.3 million Nigerians are drug addicts, while three million are suffering from drug-related disorders.

“Government should strengthen the system to prevent the proliferation of drugs and pay attention to agencies charged with reversing the situation.

“Drug abuse affects economic growth; the higher the abuse the higher the level of insecurity and poverty,’’ he said.

Margaret Elayo, Senior Special Assistant on Primary Healthcare to Gov. Sule commended the NDLEA in the state and assured of partnership to curb drug abuse in Nasarawa State.

This year’s celebration of the Day is: “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises.’’