The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA)

  • Two Chinese nationals arrested over attempt to smuggle out elephant tusks

    Two Chinese nationals arrested over attempt to smuggle out elephant tusks

    ………..Hand over 678 pieces of elephant tusks to NSREA

    ……..381 kilogrammes  of Pangolin

     

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA), Command of Nigerian Customs Service ( NCS), Ikeja , Lagos on friday arrested two Chinese nationals over attempt to smuggle out prohibited items on the export list consisting 678 pieces of Elephant tusks and eight sacks of Pangolin weighing over 381 kilogrammes.

    The attempt by the Chinese nationals contravenes Schedule 6 of the Nigerian Exports Prohibition List, which prescribes as illegal any attempt to export wild animals and endangered species.

    The Chinese nationals according to the Customs Area Comptroller of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command,  Frank Nduka Allannah  have been remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Customs at the Lagos Airport pending further investigation.

    The impounded items:  consisting scales of Pangolin , the most trafficked endangered animal that eats it own flesh was meant for export where it would have been used for Chinese medicine.

    According to  Allannah, the impounded items will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency ( NESREA).

    Allannah  said eagled-eyed Customs officials at the Export Shed of the MMIA, intercepted the prohibited items while they were being taken out of the country by the Chinese who claimed ownership of the items.

    He said upon physical examination of prohibited item, the Chinese were subsequently arrested and are still being held in custody.

    He said the Elephant tusks were in two compartments of 387 unprocessed pieces , while 271 had been processed into combs and hand bangles.

    The Customs boss, however, did not give the street value of the prohibited items, saying Customs personnel in the relevant units were already carrying out the monetary assessment to ascertain the value.

    On further steps to be taken he said: “ We do not intend to give the names of the Chinese nationals yet. They have been arrested and are in Customs custody. They will be handed over to the relevant security agencies.

    ‘” The prohibited items will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency  for further action on the prohibited item.”

     

  • Death row: NDLEA saves Nigerian from execution in China

    Death row: NDLEA saves Nigerian from execution in China

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has prevented a thirty-eight year-old mother of two children, Obudike Faith Ndidiamaka from execution in China where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.

    This followed her arrest by anti-narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during outward screening of passengers on Kenyan Airways flight to China. She was found with 1.155kgs of cannabis hidden in melon.
    Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah who condemned her action said that the Agency needs fund to embark on aggressive anti-drug public enlightenment.

    According to Abdallah, “it is sad that while government is worried over the number of Nigerians on death row in other nations, a mother of two children is still smuggling drugs to China where drug trafficking is punishable by death.

    Her arrest here has saved the country from embarrassment. It has equally prevented her family from the pain of losing a loved one under the circumstance. The NDLEA will not relent in saving lives and promoting the image of Nigeria.”

    The Chairman said that most Nigerians in foreign prisons for drug trafficking did not depart Nigeria with narcotics.

    “Most Nigerians who are in foreign prisons for drug trafficking did not take drugs from Nigeria. Some others were lured with fake promises of job opportunities by members of drug trafficking organisations only to find themselves stranded and vulnerable to drug trafficking.

    Those travelling abroad in search of greener pastures must have made adequate preparation for the period they will stay and also possess requisite technical skills. We are planning elaborate public sensitisation campaign to address this challenge” Abdallah stated.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba said that the suspect, Obidike concealed the drugs in melon and food stuff. “She was caught while travelling to China with 1.155kg of compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis. Investigation into the case is in progress and she will soon be charged to court” Ahmadu stated.

    The suspect who lives in Onitsha said that she was contracted by her social media friend to smuggle the drugs to China. “I am a trader. I used to travel.

    He promised to give me a handsome reward when I get to China. Unfortunately, the drug was detected during search at the Lagos airport. I am married with two children” Obudike who hails from Imo stated.

  • Custom, FAAN staff scuffle: NCS begins investigations

    Custom, FAAN staff scuffle: NCS begins investigations

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has commenced investigations into the incident involving one of its officers and a staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), over clash of right of way near the Palace Gate of the Cargo Terminal.
    The investigation, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Customs Service Airport Command, Thelma Williams said has become imperative  to establish the veracity of the claim by a staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), that a  Customs officer attacked him near the Palace Gate over right of way on the Road leading into the Cargo Terminal.
    She said preliminary findings by the Customs has revealed that the Officer was not trying to gain access into the Palace Gate as alleged by the FAAN staff.
    But, the officer had made a turn towards the Hajj Camp axis of the road, when the FAAN staff in company of others blocked his car.
    This is just as she said the Customs Officer was at no time taken to the Airport Police Station over the matter, but, reported the matter officially.
    Williams said it is important to clear the air on the matter because of information being pushed out to the public that the Customs Officer battered the FAAN staff and damaged his car.
    She gave account of the incident: “At no time did our officer try or attempt to access the monument gate as being alleged. Rather the officer in question veered off the road to drop off a friend only to be barricaded by a FAAN staff in the company of four other FAAN workers.
    “He tried to inquire the reason for the barricade and this led to an argument which further culminated into a scuffle.
    “There was never a point that our officer was taken to the Police station as reported in the press. The incident was actually a misunderstanding of right of use of way on the Airport Boulevard.”