The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ahmadu Giade

  • NDLEA finds 9.2kg drug in palm oil

    NDLEA finds 9.2kg drug in palm oil

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has aborted a plot to export 9.2 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed inside palm oil to South Africa.

    The discovery was made during the screening of cargoes on a South African Airline flight at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

    A taxi driver, who brought the consignment, was arrested by the anti-narcotic officials.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar, said: “A taxi driver, Okwuokei Peter, has been arrested for attempting to export 9.2kilogrammes of methamphetamine to South Africa. The drug was packed in 41 parcels and hidden inside a gallon containing palm oil,” Umar stated.

    The suspect, in his statement, said: “I thought I was doing one of my passengers a favour; little did I know that it would land me in a big trouble. He called me and asked me to collect a gallon of palm oil from somebody. When I got to an estate junction as directed by him, a young man walked up to me and asked if I was Peter; I said ‘yes.’ Then, he gave me the gallon of sealed palm oil. At the airport, it was found to contain drugs during search. In fact, I am speechless, confused and frustrated.”

    Peter, who hails from Delta State, lives in Lagos with his wife and four children.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade urged the public to shun drug trafficking.

    “Ignorance is not an excuse under the Act. If you are not sure that consignment is drug-free, then do not take it for export; otherwise you are liable. People must be cautious,” Giade stated.

    He added: “Section 11, sub-section ‘B’ of the NDLEA Act states that anybody who, without lawful authority export, transports or otherwise traffic the drug popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroine or any other similar drugs, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.

  • Woman excretes wraps of hard drugs

    Woman excretes wraps of hard drugs

    A 32-year-old woman, Chizoba Anya Vivian, is being quizzed by anti-narcotic officers for allegedly excreting wraps of a substance which tested positive for methamphetamine on-board a Qatar Airline flight from Malaysia.

    The suspect was said to have aroused suspicion following her frequent visit to the toilet. On arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, three wraps of methamphetamine were found in her possession.

    The NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the suspect excreted two additional wraps, while under observation.

    His words: “The suspect was found with three wraps which she excreted in the aircraft. While she was under observation at the Lagos airport, she excreted two additional wraps of drugs. The five wraps which tested positive for methamphetamine weighed 80 grammes.”

    Preliminary investigation also revealed that the suspect left Ghana where she ingested the drugs to Malaysia.

    In Malaysia, she was denied entry and made to board another flight back to Nigeria. She started excreting the drugs at the airport in Malaysia.

    The suspect said she was offered M500,000 to smuggle the drugs to Malaysia.

    “I was promised the sum of half a million naira but my problem started when I had immigration problem in Malaysia. I was denied entry and made to return to Nigeria after two days. While in the aircraft, I excreted three wraps and two other wraps in the NDLEA office,” Vivian said.

    Vivian, who hails from Onitsha, Anambra State said she just completed her Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State. “I just completed my HND programme and I am from a very poor family. I wanted to use the money they promised me to assist my siblings by smuggling the drug to Malaysia,” she added.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, warned against what he called the get-rich-quick syndrome.

    “Drug traffickers must avoid get-rich-quick syndrome and understand that a good name is better than ill-gotten wealth that comes without peace of mind,” Giade said.

    The NDLEA boss also urged passengers to be vigilant and report suspicious passengers to the authorities.

    The suspect will soon be charged to court.

  • Farmers abandon food crops for cannabis – NDLEA

    Most Nigerian farmers now abandon growing food and economic crops for cannabis in a bid to become instant millionaires , the country’s anti-narcotics agency said Saturday.

    In a statement, Ahmadu Giade, the chairman of the Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said: “It is sad and disturbing that most farmers are now abandoning food and economic crops for cannabis.”

    Last year, the NDLEA arrested 8,052 suspected drug traffickers, including 542 women, it said.

    The NDLEA boss said that more than 1,400 hectares of land was used last year for cannabis plantation.

    “This 1,404.27 hectares of land could have changed the fortunes of our agricultural sector if properly utilised,” he stated.

    The agency seized drugs worth 33 billion naira ($208 million/ 152 million euros) last year and prosecuted 1,720 suspects, it stated. It did not say how many suspects the agency convicted.

    Among the drugs seized were cannabis, heroin, cocaine, ephedrine, methamphetamine and amphetamine, the NDLEA said.

    “We shall continue to dislodge more drug trafficking syndicates because anytime we intercept drug from criminals, we are indirectly saving lives,” Giade said.

     

    Some of the seized drugs – hidden in ear rings, buttons, necklaces, bangles and female belts – came into Lagos from Brazil and Pakistan, he alleged. (AFP)

     

     

  • ndlea arrests 420 drug suspects, convicts 69 in Lagos

    ABOUT 420 persons were arrested with 8,300.277kg of drugs in the past 10 months, Lagos State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Aliyu Sule said yesterday.

    Sixty nine persons were convicted for drug related charges during the period.

    Describing drug abuse as alarming, Sule, said: “The problem of drug abuse in the state is alarming. Between January and October the command arrested 420 drug traffickers comprising 387 males and 33 females. A total of 8,300.277kg of drugs was also seized. The drugs include 8,186.320kg of cannabis, psychotropic substances, 73.450kg, methamphetamine 34.016kg, heroin 4.688kg and cocaine 1.803kg.

    “Within the period under review, we have had two successful joint operations with the military. The first raid carried out in June 2013, led to the seizure of 3,166.15kg and the arrest of 47 suspects. Another raid in November led to the arrest of 15 suspects with 680.266kg of narcotic drugs mainly cannabis”.

    NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade said the Agency would continue to partner with the Army and other security organisations in the fight against drug trafficking.

    “The support of Army Commander in charge of 9 Brigade, Brig Gen Adeniyi Oyebade has aided the successful raid of sensitive locations like Akala, Akerele and Agege, Lagos”.

     

    Giade called for the government’s and private sector’s assistance in finding a lasting solution to the drug problem. He said: “We need the support of government and private sector in the construction of an ultra-modern rehabilitation centre in Lagos. This is needed to effectively address the problem of drug abuse in the state. The Agency is also working very hard to prevent drug supply to the state”.

  • How airport staff aided drug suspect- NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)  has foiled a plot by some airport staff to aid  a suspected drug trafficker in circumventing security checks.

    A suspected drug trafficker, Adetunji Oladeji Joseph was arrested while wearing an official tarmac reflective jacket posing as an airport staff . He ingested 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.350kg. Adetunji was illegally taken to the boarding gates at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos by a female cleaner.

    The alleged mastermind is a driver with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Olatubosun Michael Olatunji. A female cleaner, Mrs Uzoma David and one Mr Ekene Victor Uchenna have been found to be part of the drug racket.

    The NDLEA Chairman,  Ahmadu Giade while describing the incident as an act of sabotage promised to prosecute all persons involved in the criminal act as deterrence to others. He however expressed disappointment over the lack of trust exhibited by the members of staff.

    “It is disappointing for workers at the airport community to indulge in such high level compromise. Their action is inimical and a calculated attempt to undermine security measures at the airport. They will be prosecuted for others to see the bitter consequences of compromise. Drug barons always seek to corrupt officials through bribery but we are working to counter such acts of infiltration” Giade stated.

    He thanked the management of FAAN and other security Agencies over what he described as excellent cooperation spirit. According to NDLEA boss, “I am very pleased with the support and excellent cooperation spirit of the management of FAAN and other Agencies. It exemplifies team spirit and synergy at its best. The arrest and hand over of Olatunbosun Michael Olatunji by FAAN for investigation is commendable”.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport Mr Hamza Umar said that the incident took place on the 7th of February 2013 but the main culprits were only arrested just this weekend. “This is a high level case of aiding and abetting so we took our time in trying to arrest all parties to the crime. Let me also appreciate the support of security agencies at the airport especially FAAN” Hamza stated.

    Preliminary investigation revealed that one Mr Ekene Victor Uchenna, a staff with Avobridge who is currently at large gave his reflective jacket and on duty tag to the suspect. He also handed the suspect to a female cleaner Mrs Uzoma David who led him to the boarding gate to evade screening. The airport staff also collected an undisclosed amount of money to aid the suspect.

    Mr Ekene has been declared wanted by the Agency. It was gathered that he was involved in examination fraud at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos where he is studying Mechanical Engineering at Higher National Diploma Level. Since the incident occurred, he had been on the run.

    Another suspected member of the drug cartel, Peter Chidibere a trader at Trade Fair Complex, Lagos has been arrested by the NDLEA. He is currently being interrogated by narcotic officials. It was gathered that necessary arrangements for Adetunji Oladeji Joseph to smuggle the drugs.

    Meanwhile, Giade said investigation is on-going and more arrests are expected.