NDLEA arrests 19 suspected drug traffickers at Lagos Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) has arrested 19 suspects and
seized a total of 14.030 kilogrammes of controlled and prohibited
drugs in the last three months.
These seizures consist of 2.575 Kilograms of Cocaine, 5.100 Kilograms
of Heroin, 6.615 Kilograms of Methamphetamine, 73.440 Kilograms of
Ephedrine, 66.300 Kilograms of Cannabis sativa and three (3) abandoned
seizures.
The arrests and seizures were recorded within the period of the
implementation of the Federal Government executive order on ease of
doing business, it was learnt.
Spokesman of NDLEA, Jonah Achema disclosed these yesterday even as he
denied allegations of extortion of passengers leveled against officers
and men of the Lagos Airport command in some quarters.
He clarified that despite the implementation of the executive order
which is now in place at the airport and which bars baggage checked
inside the airport terminal hall, the NDLEA has a mandate as
stipulated in its Act to have operational presence at all entry and
exit points, MMIA inclusive.
The spokesman also stressed that the agency would not shield any
officer found wanting in its duty post, noting that the allegation
that some officers extort passengers at the airport was not
substantiated.
“It must be noted that the Agency has never and will never shield any
officer found wanting if there is any established evidence of
misconduct against such an officer and not on account of idle
allegations as in this case”, he said.
Achema added, “The Agency, no doubts, sees the Media as a critical
stakeholder in the efforts to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking
networks and ultimately defeat the criminal drug entrepreneurs. It is
through a mutually reinforcing relationship between the Agency and the
Media that this laudable goal can be achieved
Meanwhile the agency has revealed that it will henceforth arrest and prosecute any patent medicine dealer who sells or stock controlled drugs and stimulants in their shops.
The NDLEA Enugu State Commander, Dr Anthony Ohanyere, said this in a seminar organized by the agency in conjunction with the National Association of Proprietors of Patent Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) on Tuesday in Enugu.
Ohanyere stressed on the reasons why patent medicine dealers should not dispense controlled drugs and stimulants.
He noted that the agency had made it clear to all that it would arrest and prosecute any patent medicine dealer engaging in sales and distribution of controlled drugs as part of the NDLEA’s national security mandate.
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse in law.
“However, we observed that there are a lot of ignorant patent medicine dealers so we need to come and be part of the seminar to make it clear even with local language that they should not sell, dispense or distribute controlled drugs and stimulants under any guise.
“NDLEA will not fail to do its work and ensure that henceforth anyone of them caught would not be speared; as the law will take its full course,’’ he said.
The commander said that they must sell only approved drugs as it is now a common knowledge that everybody go to the patent medicine shop to get medication at will even most times without prescription from a medical expert.
According to him, the NDLEA will soon start a massive combing of patent medicines shops in all nook and crannies of the state to ensure that people do not have access to controlled drugs and stimulants.
“This easily and quick access to these controlled drugs and stimulants have tendencies to increase hard drug use among the residents especially the youths,’’ he said.
Ohanyere noted that the agency would continue its harmonious working relationship with NAPPMED; adding that NDLEA would continue to sensitize members of the association for the benefit of the entire society.
The President of NAPPMED in Enugu State, Chief Cyprian Ekpete, said that members of association was highly enlightened on the need to be law abiding and carry out their businesses within the ambit of the law.
Ekpete noted that the NDLEA Commander had taken his time to enumerate controlled drugs and stimulants to all for every patent medicine dealers to know.
“With this sensitization and enlightenment, anybody caught doing the wrong thing is just on his own and he or she should face the music alone.
“A word is enough for the wise and law abiding among our members,’’ he said.
Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo and Moses Oyediran, Enugu
