(Nigeria & China): NDLEA steps up fight against cannabis smuggling
Saturday, 27 Jun 2009
Source: Daily Sun
Date: 27/6/2009
Description: NDLEA steps up fight against cannabis smuggling
NDLEA steps up fight against cannabis smuggling
By Sun News Publishing
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ahmadu Giade has asked the Federal Government to take measures that would help in the fight against smuggling of hard drugs.
It also charged security agencies at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) to be alert to the illegal activities of drug cartels.
Giade made the call following the findings and recommendations of investigation conducted by the anti-narcotic agency on the exposed cartel that specialises in cannabis smuggling through the conveyor belt.
As part of the measure to stop smuggling of drugs through the airport, the NDLEA is calling for the illumination of the conveyor belt tunnel and installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) monitors.
Giade has therefore, directed that NDLEA staff strength at the baggage unit of the airport be increased while some of his agents be permanently stationed at the gate of the basement leading to the Tarmac. This, the agency said, is to give support to the motorised patrol team.
Giade urged security agents to work as a team and complement one another, noting that national security is not a one-man affair.
“NDLEA cannot fight and win the battle against illicit drugs in isolation, in the same vein no country is an island. We must collaborate and work together,” the NDLEA boss stated.
A statement by the head of media, NDLEA, Ofoyeju Mitchell, said that the journey towards the dismantling of the cartel began on March 3, 2009 when a Nigerian, Nnaemeka Daniel Offorkaile with international passport number A00631236 was arrested in Beijing China by Beijing Anti-Smuggling Bureau over 87.25 kg of cannabis concealed in two packages.
It said that Nnaemeka departed Nigeria through the MMIA Lagos on March 1, 2009 on board Qatar Airways flight No. QR 898 and arrived Beijing on March 2, 2009 with two luggage, but immediately proceeded to Guangzhou without collecting any of the luggage. He was nabbed the following day when he went to collect his luggage.
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) reported the arrest of Nnaemeka by the Chinese authorities to the NDLEA through two letters dated March 23 and 26 2009. Consequently, the NDLEA chairman ordered the investigation of the matter to unravel the circumstances that led to the exportation of the said 87.25 kg of cannabis by Nnaemeka to China.
The statement said that all staff of security agencies on duty during the screening of passengers on the Qatar Airways flight on March1, 2009 were quizzed by the investigative team headed by a Superintendent of Narcotics, Nanzing Sallah. Investigation revealed that the maximum weight of any check-in luggage by Qatar Airways is 32 kg and that the Airline does not accept payment of excess luggage.
Mitchell said that the NAHCO staff who supervised the handling of luggage on March 1, 2009 claimed that she did not record any excess luggage as indicated by the seizure made in China. This was also corroborated by the official record of Qatar Airways. The weight recorded for both luggage at the Lagos airport was found to be 18 kg only.
The statement said that as a result of the observed lapses, NDLEA has called for increased vigilance by various security agents.
It said that on May 2 2009, NDLEA operatives and officials of Qatar Airways were alerted of two suspicious bags.
The statement said: “Immediately, NDLEA operatives went there and made three arrests of the bag handlers found to be staff of OTIS, namely Hammed Oyesanya, Dosunmu and Stephen Adebowale. When interrogated, they owned up to the crime indicting two other colleagues of theirs. While conducting search on the luggage, 52 compressed wraps of cannabis were found weighing 49 kg.
“In the course of investigation, one Okoli Monday said to be the owner of the 49 kg of cannabis was arrested. Few days later, one Madu Sunday Emeka brought a bag to Richard Ekpo, both of whom are members of the syndicate. They were both arrested and when the bag was searched, 17 compressed wraps of cannabis weighing 17.5 kg were found inside. Investigation is on going and efforts are being intensified to arrest all members of the syndicate.
“It is pertinent to note that the NDLEA has so far demonstrated high sense of professionalism in cracking down on members of the syndicate. At no time was any NDLEA officer either arrested or quizzed in respect of this case.”