• Raises Alarm Over Use Of Seaports By Drug Barons
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has sounded the alarm about the threat of smuggling large shipments of narcotics through the Nigerian seaports into the country.
This followed the seizure of large quantity of heroin made by the Agency in collaboration with the British authorities.
The unadulterated heroin, weighing 113.49kg, was industrially concealed in three moulding machines imported from Islamabad, Pakistan, in a 20 feet container.
The search was conducted at the Ikoyi, Lagos Headquarters of the Agency.
A total of 109 wraps, weighing 113.49kg, of heroin was imported into the country through the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.
The illicit consignment was cleared from the Tin Can Port but anti-narcotic operatives, working on intelligence, trailed the container to Okota, Lagos where it was intercepted.
This is the first seizure made at the seaport this year by the NDLEA and the estimated street value of the drug is N2.2 billion.
So far, the NDLEA disclosed that five arrests have been made and the suspects will soon be charged to court.
Commenting on the haul and the collaboration with British police,the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, applauded the United Kingdom authorities for sharing the intelligence with the Agency.
Giade said: "We are thankful to the United Kingdom authorities over the cooperation that led to the seizure.
"This operation underscores the importance of collaboration and mutual trust among countries in drug control.
"High level surveillance was carried out on the container, which arrive the Tin Can Island port some months ago.
"We shall continue to take away the profit from the criminal trade through prompt seizure of drugs, arrests and prosecution."
The NDLEA boss explained that industrial welders were invited during the search due to the manner the drugs were concealed.
He said: "The process of extracting the drugs from the machines took several hours at the Agency’s headquarters, Ikoyi Lagos.
"The machines are big and heavy, weighing 1,100kg each.
"It took industrial welders, with their cutting machines, a long time to cut them open for the drug to be recovered."
The Agency boss added that the seizures recorded at the ports are pointers to the fact that its capacity needs to be greatly enhanced at the seaports.
He said: "The drug seizures made at the airports are insignificant compared to what comes in through the seaports.
"From experience, one drug seizure at the seaport equals what is seized in a year at the airport.
"The implication is that the capacity of the NDLEA needs to be enhanced through funding, training and provision of logistics."
Illicit drugs, according to the NDLEA, can cripple the socio-economic and political stability of the nation.
Giade assured Nigerians that the Agency has taken steps to ensure the clearance of goods within 48 hours at the ports in line with the presidential directive.
He also warned that the Agency will protect the country from the criminal trade in narcotics, adding: "We shall continue to incapacitate drug barons through coordinated drug seizures, arrests and diligent prosecution."
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