NDLEA arrests 63 suspects with 484.11kgs of drugs

A statement by the spokesman of the agency, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, in Lagos said that the suspects were arrested with a total of 484.11 kilogramms of drugs at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.

''The suspected drug barons also abandoned 336.09kgs of the seized drugs.

''Those arrested were 46 males and 17 females while the breakdown of drugs are Cocaine, 35kgs; Heroin, 8.460kgs; Methamphetamine, 54.4kgs; Ephedrine, 6.12kgs; Cannabis, 5.47kgs and Psychotropic substances, 374.63kgs.

''Twenty suspects were nabbed attempting to export drugs while 25 were caught importing drugs into the country and 18 suspects were apprehended during follow-up operations,” it said.

The statement said that three "abandoned seizures”, including 25 kilogrammes of methamphetamine billed for South Africa, 311 kilogrammes of tramadol originating from India and 0.09 grammes of cocaine from Brazil, were made during the period.

It gave the monthly breakdown of arrests and drug seizures as January, 12 suspects with 6.30kgs; February, 10 suspects with 54.76kgs; March, 13 suspects with 39.49kgs.

In April, 13 suspects with 28.04kgs; May, 13 suspects with 353.95kgs while June had two suspects and 1.59kgs.

The statement quoted the Chairman of the agency, Mr Muhammad Abdallah, as promising to dismantle drug syndicates in the country.

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Abdallah said that Nigeria would continue to subscribe to the principle of shared responsibility and international collaboration in combating drug cartels in the country.

''The agency is maximising the benefits of Airport Communication Programme (AIRCOP) by coordinating joint international operations.

''We will continue to build capacity in risk analysis, drug detection methodology and tracing of illicit drug proceeds aimed at dismantling criminal networks," he said.