Drug trafficking: Airport officials, another jailed in Kano
The Commander, National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) Command, Mr. Ambrose Umoru, has described the year 2017 as a remarkable year considering the nature of arrests made, which led to the imprisonment of four airport officials.
Umoru stated that his vigilant men were able to apprehend one Columbus Christopher Chukuani who was exporting 25kg of Mephedrin to Johannesburg in South Africa and upon investigation, four Airport officials were discovered to be involved in sneaking the exhibit into the plane without going through the normal security screening.
“After thorough investigations, the four men were charged to court, tried and found guilty of aiding and abetting a drug pusher and were sentenced to 2 years imprisonment each as well as losing their jobs. While the main suspect was given 3 years jail term without an option of fine after pleading guilty to the offence and this has opened our eyes to extend our surveillance to the people we work with.
“That the huge amount of money involved in the business, and the get rich quick syndrome which has become the order of the day in the country, is one of the major reasons why some officials compromise,” he said.
He, however, noted that although the rate of persons likely to use the airport in exporting hard drugs out of the country or into the country is less compared to other airport such as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and other major ones but that his men would not relent in gathering intelligence that would lead to the arrest of any person whom would be considering using the airport to export or import such unlawful products.
Furthermore, Ambrose called for more funding of the agency as well as provision of modern equipment from the Federal Government who has always done its best for the agency, for proper and easier means of scanning and screening of passengers travelling in and out of Nigeria.
This, he said, is necessary considering the fact that drug barons are constantly thinking of ways to beat security agencies, hence the need for security agencies to be steps ahead.
“The action of some individuals who are bent on making money through whatever means has given Nigerians bad image abroad. When our people travel abroad, they are subjected to all sort of screening and harassment just because of the activities of some selfish individuals, this, we must try to check mate,” Ambrose added.
Other items confiscated within the year include 19.5kg of cocaine, 10.6k of Heroine, which were recently destroyed and all suspects involved are facing various jail terms.
Yakubu Salisu, Kano
