NDLEA arrests 43 drug suspects, seizes 4,668.880kg of substances

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has impounded a total of 4,668.880kg of illicit drugs between January and July this year.

This also includes 43 suspects who are Nigerians and nationals of different countries, while the seized substances comprised psychotropic; Tramadol and Phenacetin, which weighed 4,449.9kg and 11.18kg respectively.

NDLEA Commandant, MMIA Command, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, in a chat with newsmen at the Lagos Airport, disclosed that 16. 06kg of cocaine was seized within the period, heroin was 7.5kg, cocaine heroin mixture; 6.260, cannabis sativa; 15.64, methamphetamine; 42.88, and ephedrine was 119.46kg.

In all, 43 suspects comprising 38 males and five females from Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Ghana and Congo Brazzaville were all arrested for the illicit act within the period.

Monthly analysis of the seizures showed that in January, nine male suspects were arrested, February; seven were arrested - six males and one female; in March, seven arrests were made comprising six males and one female and April, six suspects made up of four males and two females were arrested.

In May, six suspects – five males and one female were arrested, June records arrest of two males while six males were apprehended in July.

Garba explained further that the total kilogrammes of seizures had tripled the ones seized within the same period in 2017 and attributed this to the improved intelligence gathering by its officers at the airport.