Lagos- The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says the statistics of drug arrests and seizures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, shows that arrests increased by 16.22 percent.
The Head of Public relations of NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, who made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, also said that drug seizures decreased by 33.68kg.
“The Airport command of the NDLEA in 2014 apprehended 129 suspected drug traffickers comprising of 118 males and 11 females with 436.65kg of drugs seizures.
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“In 2013, the agency apprehended 93 drug suspects with 878.81kg of narcotics.
“The breakdown of the 2014 scorecard indicates that cocaine has the largest quantity with 120.44kg.
“Methamphetamine is next with 108.645kg, cannabis sativa 107.855kg, heroin 51.01kg, psychotropic substances 37.285kg and ephedrine 10.83kg.
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“The estimated street value of the seized drugs in 2014 is N2.9 billion,” the statement said.
It quoted the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Mr Hamza Umar, as saying that 117 drug suspects were apprehended on 18 Airlines.
“More arrest of drug suspects was made on Ethiopian airlines, Emirates, Etihad, South African and Qatar Airways.
“A total of 44 suspects were apprehended trying to import narcotics into the country.
“South Africa, China and United Arab Emirates top the list of preferred destinations by suspects.
“The command received 229 persons who were deported on drug related charges,” it said.
The statement said that of the 229 drug deportees, 39 came from Italy, 37 from the U.S., 36 from Spain, 31 from Norway and 22 from Thailand.
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Others, it said, were Saudi Arabia 14, Switzerland 13, France seven, United Arab Emirates five, Greece four, while Brazil and Sweden deported three persons each.
Australia, India and South Africa deported two persons each, while Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Indonesia, Ireland, Portugal, Turkey, Uganda and the U.K. deported one person each.
The statement said 21 arrests were made on Ethiopian Airlines, 17 on Emirates, 12 on Etihad Airways, 11 on South African Airways, 10 on Qatar Airways and seven on Turkish Air.
It added that Air France and Arik Air had two arrests each; Kenyan Airways and Royal Air Maroc recorded five each, while Alitalia and Rwand Air had four arrests each.
It also said that Egypt Airline had three arrests, Cargolux two, while Africa World Airline, Iberia, KLM and Lufthansa recorded one arrest each.
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It noted that drug traffickers adopted different modes of drug concealment at the Lagos airport in 2014.
“Those that ingested narcotics were 29, while 88 traffickers hid drugs in their luggage.
“Four of the traffickers were caught in connection with anal ingestion, one female suspect inserted drug in her vagina and one other packed the drug on his body,” the statement said.
It said the MMIA command also made financial seizures, including 24,362 dollars, 23,450 Euros, 10,000 Pound Sterling, N240,000 and 1,140) South African Rand.
“In addition, 107 ATM cards and 250,500 fake dollars were intercepted,” it added.
The statement said that speaking on the scorecard, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said the agency should work round the clock in addressing the problem of drug trafficking.
“The NDLEA shall continue to work very hard in making the country peaceful and drug-free.
“Efforts shall be intensified towards public enlightenment on the dangers of drug production, trafficking and abuse.
“Let me call on parents and guardians to educate their children on the benefits of living a drug-free lifestyle,” it quoted Giade as saying.
It said that Giade urged commanders to step up security checks at the airport and make it difficult for drug traffickers to penetrate all exit and entry points. (NAN)