The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NDLEA

  • ‘Yes, I deal in banned narcotic’

    ‘Yes, I deal in banned narcotic’

    A 21-year-old woman, Rashidat Shehu, yesterday pleaded guilty to dealing in Cannabis Sativa, a banned narcotic.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned her before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    She was arrested at Agbara in Lagos on July 1 with 800 grammes of the narcotic, which, according to the NDLEA, has an effect similar to cocaine’s.

    The one-count charge, dated July 24, reads: “That you, Rashidat Shehu, female, 21-years-old, on or about July 1, 2014 at Abule-Ira in Agbara area of Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without lawful authority, dealt in 800 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, otherwise known as marijuana, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroine, LSD, etc and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

    After pleading guilty, NDLEA’s counsel, Mr Orji Kalu sought to present the evidence against the accused so she could be convicted and sentenced.

    “When an accused person pleads guilty, your Lordship is enjoined procedurally to convict and sentence him accordingly,” he said.

    However, Justice Abang said he would adjourn for sentencing because he had a meeting to attend.

    Shehu’s lawyer, Mr N.B. Bakare, pointed out that the accused person had been in prison custody since she was arrested on July 1.

    Kalu said Shehu was not arraigned earlier partly because the courts were on vacation.

    Justice Abang adjourned till November 26 “for a review of the facts of the case.”

     

  • I’m a drug dealer, woman tells court

    I’m a drug dealer, woman tells court

    THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arraigned a 32-year-old woman, Ifeoma Eze, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly dealing in a banned narcotic.

    She pleaded guilty to the charge, saying she went into the business as a means of survival.

    NDLEA’s lawyer Ernest Agwu said the accused was arrested on July 21 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

    He said about 6.200 grams of the narcotic was recovered from her during clearance of passengers to China.

    According to the prosecutor, the substance was concealed in a large envelope and tucked in Eze’s luggage.

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke ordered that she be remanded at the Kirikiri women prison until October 24, when she would be sentenced after a review of the evidence.

    Eze admitted the one-count charge of trafficking about 6.200 grams of Cannabis Sativa, also known as Indian hemp.

     

  • Pharmacists cautioned on PPP

    The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has condemned some hospitals which have reduced pharmacy to a purely commercial venture of buying and selling, under the public-private partnership (PPP) in some  governments facilities.

    Its president, Olumide Akintayo, said there were patients who visit public hospitals because they believe their drugs would be genuines given the fake drug syndrome ravaging the health sector.

    “But it has come to the notice of the society that some public-private partnership (PPP) in some of the health facilities are buying and selling drugs with absolutely no standards.”

    He said: “Some of the federal health institutions which experimented with privatisation in pharmacy facilities are still in a huge mess, even after such contracts have been terminated, because the profiteers, who utilised the goodwill of the institutions to source drugs from the pharmaceutical industry, simply sold the drugs and pocketed the accruing revenue.

    “Many of the pharmaceutical companies refuse to do business with public health facilities up till now with serious consequences for consumers of health in such institutions.

    “That is why the PSN continues to caution on the consequences of diverting a guaranteed public sector market in pharmacy facilities to private profiteers. Some of the fundamental fall-outs that will always suffice remains who takes responsibility when anything goes wrong with respect to drugs dispensed in such facilities concessioned to profiteers. The profiteer or the government,” he asked.

    It is on record that Lagos State government that blazed the trail has been able to adapt its privitisation model of drugs dispensing under the PPP to the PPP guidelines prescribed by the PCN.

    Akintayo said: “This is why PSN continues to caution on the consequences of diverting a guaranteed public sector market in pharmacy facilities to private profiteers. We at the PSN believe very much in the spirits of a private sector driven economy and logically support the concept of legitimate models of a PPP. Pharmacy practice is a regulated one with a myriad of regulatory agencies having substantial latitudes of influence. These agencies include PCN, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Federal and State taskforce as well as other regulatory agencies of government. “

    Akintayo who spoke at activities announcing the society’s 87th annual national conference, with the theme: ‘Transforming pharmacy practice for better outcomes’, to be held at Akwa Ibom, in the first week of next month, said: “PSN therefore is making a clarion call on pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies and stakeholders to familiarises themselves with the tenets of the PPP guidelines of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) before entering into contracts with public pharmacy practise facilities, to reduce  the obnoxious practice of buying and selling of drugs with no standards in the guise of a PPP.”

  • Customs seizes N9m Indian hemp

    Customs seizes N9m Indian hemp

    The Nigeria Customs  Service (CS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone “C” has seized 399.5kg  wraps of Indian hemp (cannabis sativa) valued at about  N9 million.

    Its Area Controller, Victor Dimka said the hard drug were intercepted on the 9th Mile axis  in Enugu State.

    Dimka said the Indian hemp was concealed in a luxury bus along with other luggages to deceive his eagle-eyed officers on duty.

    His officers, the Area Controller  said, acted on information given to them and intercepted the bus bearing the cannabis sativa and other contraband goods such as foreign rubber slippers, used motorcycle and used computers.

    Dimka said the drug was later handed over to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.

    He said the zone was now a “no go area” for smugglers, their agents and collaborators, stressing that officers and men of the NCS are now better trained, motivated and equipped with the state-of-the-art gadgets to deal with  smugglers wherever they may be.

    He said: “Despite efforts to reduce smuggling, smugglers have refused to listen to the voice of reason and it is quite unfortunate and disheartening that the deviants have continued with their nefarious trade.”

    He said the driver of the luxury bus, who is the prime suspect, has been arrested and would be prosecuted and if found guilty would be convicted in accordance with the provisions of the law, assuring that the NCS would continue to synergise with other sister agencies in the war against smuggling.

    He reiterated the determination of the NCS to win the battle against illicit trade, stressing that the drug war is  not the exclusive responsibility of the NDLEA , but that of all levels of government and all well meaning Nigerians.

    He regretted that the continued consumption of hard drugs by some disgruntled individuals has led to the upsurge of criminals in the society.

    He expressed delight at the relationship between the NCS and the NDLEA and gave an assurance that Customs would continue to be focused on its war against smuggling and arrest more smugglers to serve as a deterrent to others still engaged in illicit trade.

    Its Public Relation Officer (PRO),  Onuigbo Ifeoma said Customs also recorded 98 seizures in the Southeast and Southsouth geo-political zone of the country with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N322 million.

    Giving the breakdown of the seizures, she said officers of the zone also seized a container load of 112 bales of textiles material, 40 feet container comprising garments and furniture last month.

    She said four trucks containing 1,932 (50kg) bags of rice was impounded on the Benin axis.

    The image maker also advised intending car owners to always contact the help desk of any Customs formation to ascertain the genuineness of their Customs clearance documents .

  • NDLEA arrests two suspected traffickers

    NDLEA arrests two suspected traffickers

    Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two suspected drug traffickers for allegedly concealing 13.33kg of substances found to be cocaine, inside capacitors and perfumes.

    The arrest and seizure took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The estimated street value of the drug imported from Brazil is N119million.

    The NDLEA Commander, Mr. Hamisu Lawan, gave the names of the suspects as Daniel Marvin and Akubuo Favour Victor.

    He said: “Daniel Marvin with Nigerian Passport Number A05545613 was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirate Airline flight from Dubai. He was found in possession of 7.580kg of cocaine hidden inside capacitors. The second suspect, Akubuo Favour Victor, was found in possession of 5.750kg of cocaine hidden inside perfumes. Both suspects were coming from Brazil when they were arrested.”

  • EU votes N8b for NDLEA’s safety equipment

    EU votes N8b for NDLEA’s safety equipment

    The European Union, (EU) has said  it will be supporting the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with safety and screening equipment valued at 36 million euros (about N8billion)  over the

    next 50 months.

    The EU also said it would continue to train and retrain the personnel in its efforts to combat the movement of illicit drugs into and outside the country.

    Head, EU Delegate to Nigeria, Amb. Michel Arron who spoke in Lagos during a meeting with the NDLEA, explained that the essence of the support was for the agency and the country at large to be able to improve law enforcement capacity in drug control and tackle organised drug –related crimes in the country.

    In the first phase of the collaboration, the EU donated 100 desktop computers and 15 laptops, stressing that this would help in boosting anti-drug agency’s capability to gather and process data.

    He argued that the donation would also assist the NDLEA to achieve three objectives, which include; policy formulation and improve drug legislation, coordination of the sector and improve law enforcement of  capacity in drug control and tackling organised drug- related and to enhance drug prevention, treatment and care services adapted to Nigeria conditions.

    Arrion said words needed to be turned to action by people on the ground with the very best information, data and access to the latest technologies available, adding that as a result, reliable data about drug trafficking and drug abuse in Nigeria was required.

    The Ambassador stated that under the project, two full scale national survey on cannabis production and drug use in the country were currently being conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in close collaboration with NDLEA with all necessary means including satellite images being used to measures the scale of cannabis cultivation to questionnaires related to drug use to be completed at the local communities.

    He said: “The desktops are to help NDLEA to have good IT platform, analyse information and collect data. The laptops is to enable NDLEA to know the next move of drug traffickers  and to make NDLEA a very proactive organisation.”

    The Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, commended EU and UNODC for its support to drug control programmes in Nigeria, adding that EU’s donation demonstrates its willingness to assist countries in the implementation of International drug convention.

    He said  the challenges posed by illicit drug cultivation ,trafficking and abuse are enormous, adding that NDLEA believe that through shared responsibility, greater progress would be made in prosecuting the illicit drug war.

  • Customs rakes in N2.9b

    Customs rakes in N2.9b

    The Kano/Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated N2.93 billion and seized goods worth  N400,000.

    Its Area Comptroller, Abbas Umar, said the amount was generated in the last seven months.

    Umar, who spoke at a stakeholders’ forum in Kano, said the Command recorded the seizure of dangerous drugs, including rice, vegetable oil, spaghetti and mosquito coils, adding that military camouflage uniforms and boots were among the items impounded at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

    He explained that the confiscation of the Army uniforms was significant because of the security situation in the country.

    While appreciating the patronage of the business communities in Kano and Jigawa states, he noted that Kano is the commercial hub of the entire North, adding: “An importer can bring his goods, process his documents and pay duty in Kano and have his goods examined and released just as it can be done at the ports.”

    Umar said the forum was organised to enlighten and sensitise the public on the new guidelines and procedures on import and export trade, and the benefits derivable from the fast-track system introduce by Customs for the industrial sectors.

    He explained that the Customs management led by Comptroller-General, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, has made stakeholders engagement a cardinal principle of the Service, pointing out: “It is in this spirit that this forum is being held in Kano to enable us have a cross-fertilisation of ideas in carrying out the core responsibilities of the Service of which facilitation of trade is a major flank,” he said.

    Some of the papers delivered at the forum dwelt on import/export procedures, Nigeria trade hub as a veritable tool for trade facilitation and fast-track and its benefits.

    The event was attended by the representatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), NAFDAC, Immigration Service, Kano-based business men, importers, exporters and other stakeholders.

    Meanwhile, the Sokoto/Kebbi/ Zamfara Area Command of the NCS, has seized 600 cartons of Gold Seal Cigarettes with a duty-value of over N73.45 million.

    Its Area Controller, Ahmed Isyaku, said the Command intercepted the items because the owner failed to pay the specified Customs’ duties.

    “The commodity was seized not because it was a contraband, but because the owner did not pay the prescribed duty,” Isyaku, said, adding that the cigarettes were seized in an articulated vehicle on the Gusau-Tsafe road by operatives on patrol.

    He said one suspect connected with the goods had been apprehended and is awaiting prosecution.

    He said Command also seized 1,050 cartons of frozen fish, worth over N20 million, adding that the frozen fish has been destroyed.

    “The destruction had generated panic in certain quarters associating the fish with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). I wish to use this medium to clarify the air that by no means was that frozen fish associated with any disease.

    “That fish was destroyed in that manner because that is what the law stipulated, the importer contravened all the requirements for fish importation, hence the interception and the destruction,” he said.

  • Ndlea arrests man with 1.535kg of drugs

    Ndlea arrests man with 1.535kg of drugs

    Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have prevented a 38-year-old man from smuggling drugs to South Africa.

    The arrest and drug seizure took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during the outward screening of Arik Air passengers to South Africa. The drug was concealed in a false compartment of the suspect’s luggage.

    The airport’s NDLEA commander, Hamza Umar, gave the suspect’s name as Darlugar Ufondu Steven.

    He said: “A 38-year-old man, Dalugar Ufondu Steven, was apprehended on his way to South Africa. He was found in possession of 1.535kg of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine”.

    The suspect, who claims to be an assistant coach in an amateur football club in South Africa, said he was under immense financial pressure. “I am married with a child and have lived in South Africa for about a decade.

    “I have worked very hard to attain financial freedom but have nothing in return. This is my first time of smuggling drugs. I was under financial pressure to cope with peers.

    “A friend introduced me to drug trafficking as a way of making quick money. They promised to pay me 6,000 dollars to take the bag containing the drugs to South Africa”.

    NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade urged the public to support drug control efforts.

    “We have made remarkable improvement in our counter-narcotic efforts. The Agency is prepared to detect hidden drugs and prosecute the drug barons.

    “Members of the public should avoid drug trafficking and report suspected cases to the Agency,” he said.

    The suspect will soon be charged to court.

  • NDLEA arrests computer merchant with cocaine

    NDLEA arrests computer merchant with cocaine

    FEW days after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) issued a warning on Nigeria-Brazil route, officials of the anti-narcotic agency have apprehended a 50-year-old computer merchant with 16.09kg of cocaine on arrival from Brazil.

    The suspect was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during the inward screening of Etihad passengers.

    The drug was concealed in 15 hand bags inside his luggage.

    The estimated street value of the seized drug is N150million.

    According to the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Hamza Umar, the suspect travelled with a Cameroonian passport under the name Nana Njamen Theophile.

    “Investigation later revealed he hails from Anambra State with the name Okafor Godswill. The case is currently under investigation,” Umar stated.

    The suspect in his statement said that he was given $6,000 to bring the drug to Nigeria.

    “I attended Boys Secondary School Nnewi, Anambra State. I sell computer accessories at Onitsha. I am married with two children.

    “I needed money to pay my bills and there was no help. I agreed to bring the drug into Nigeria for $6,000,” the 50-year-old explained.

  • NDLEA seizes N322m drugs in oil filters

    NDLEA seizes N322m drugs in oil filters

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has impounded N322 million worth of drugs concealed in oil filters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.

    An auto parts dealer, Agbala Eze Cosmos (38), was arrested in connection with the consignment containing substances that tested positive for methamphetamine. The consignment was meant for export to Mozambique, NDLEA said.

    NDLEA Commander at the airport, Hamza Umar said the drugs were cleverly hidden inside oil filters. “The drugs were concealed in a manner that made it difficult to detect. We had to cut the filters open to recover the drugs. In all, a total quantity of 35.8kilogrammes of methamphetamine was found inside the oil filters,” he said.

    Hamza said that Agbala was assisting the agency to get the drug syndicate that allegedly hired him.

    The suspect, who said greed led him into drug trafficking, added: “I blame myself because I was greedy. They asked me to facilitate the exportation of the drug to Mozambique for N1 million. I was happy to do it because I needed money. It did not occur to me that there was so much risk involved because of the manner the drug was packed. I never knew the drug costs so much. I am married with three children and I sell auto parts,” Agbala, who hails from Enugu State, said.

    NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, said: “The agency will work very hard to arrest everyone that is involved in this case. We are prepared to go the full length in our investigations. The suspect has given us useful information that we are currently processing.”