File: NDLEA operatives

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Lagos has said the frequently flown airlines by Nigerian drug traffickers in 2019 were Ethiopian and South African airways, both coming in and going out.

NDLEA Commander, Garba Ahmadu, made the disclosure at a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday also said there was increase in the number drug suspects it arrested in 2019 compared to 2018.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ahmadu explained that 87 were males and 14 females, while a total seizure cases of 76 were recorded in the period under review.

He said: “The record of arrest in the year under review indicates that there is increase in the number of persons arrested from 93 persons in 2018 to 101 persons this year, showing 8.6 per cent increase.

“Also, the number of seizures/cases recorded in the year under review has also increased to 76 in 2019 from 73 in 2018, showing an increase of 4.11 per cent.

“Summary of the drug seized shows that cocaine accounted for 9.03 per cent of total drugs seized, heroin 5.75 per cent, cannabis sativa 44.71 per cent.

“Others are methamphetamine which is 24.93 per cent, ephedrine 7.45 per cent and other psychotropic substances 8.13 per cent.

“Cocaine is 34.109kg, Heroin 21.72kg, cannabis sativa 168.922kg, methamphetamine 94.18kg, Ephedrine 28.14kg, psychotropic substances 31.99kg (Tramadol and Diazepam) 30.450kg.”

He said the mode of concealment included bag and baggage packing, ingestion and anal insertion; baggage was 80 per cent, while the others were 14 per cent.

Ahmadu explained that the agency secured 36 convictions, while others were still in court, adding that it also received 42 male deportees for drug related issues.

He promised that officers of the agency would not rest on their oars in ensuring that illicit drug trafficking through the MMIA was reduced to the barest.

Ahmadu also said that training and retraining of its officers was yielding positive results and this would be sustained this year.