OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have intercepted methamphetamine worth N14 billion at the number one airport.
This is just as the Agency is seeking stiffer punishment for methamphetamine production and trafficking.
The seized drug weighing 45kgs was found concealed inside foodstuff in a luggage meant for export to South Africa.
The discovery was made during the outward screening of a Kenyan Airways flight and a 48 year old cook had been arrested in connection with the illegal shipment.
Methamphetamine, which is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system, is also known as meth, chalk, ice, and crystal, among many other names.
According to the NDLEA, “the drug takes the form of a white, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol. Nigeria has so far discovered 11 of such clandestine laboratories where the drug is produced since 2011. Five were found in Lagos State, another five in Anambra State and one in Delta State.”
NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Ahmadu Garba, said that a suspect, Richard Efetobore Ese, 48 years old who hails from Delta State, was apprehended in connection with the seized methamphetamine and that the suspect would be charged to court soon.
“Officers discovered 45kgs of substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. The suspect is assisting our team of investigators and will be charged to court soon,” the commander stated.
The suspect who had worked for a decade in Madrid, Spain said that he was given one million naira to smuggle the drugs to South Africa.
His words: “I was given one million naira to smuggle the drugs to South Africa. I was told the bag contains African food, but during search, NDLEA officers discovered methamphetamine in the luggage weighing 45kgs. I worked in Madrid for 10 years as a Chef and I am married with four children. The man that gave me the job met me in a drinking club.”
It will be recalled that three Bolivians were on Tuesday sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at the Federal High Court in Lagos for dealing in illicit drugs.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd) who in his reaction, described the seizure as a victory over drug barons, noted that locally produced methamphetamine was in high demand in Asia and Europe, thus, making the criminal trade highly lucrative.
Abdallah said that it was only logical that such a drug should attract stiffer punishment to discourage its production and trafficking.
“Methamphetamine and similar drugs deserves stiffer punishment to check the proliferation of clandestine laboratories and cases of trafficking. Continued production exposes our youths to the risk of being recruited by drug barons to smuggle it out of the country. It is therefore worrisome that most seizures made are even destined to countries where drug trafficking is punishable by death,” Abdallah stated.
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