[b]Drug war intensifies as NDLEA makes more arrests

TOYOSI OGUNSEYE


As the usual rush to acquire money for the Yuletide season closes in, 16 suspected drug traffickers were arrested in the month of September.


This brings the number of arrested suspected drug traffickers in the year by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, to 150.

This record represents 24 per cent increase in the number of suspects nabbed for drug related offences compared to the 121 arrests made in 2009.

Investigation however indicates a decrease in the quantity of drugs seized. Over 282kg of drugs have so far been intercepted this year while 479.75kg was said to have been seized in the previous year, representing a 41 per cent decrease.

Out of the 282.159kg intercepted this year, cocaine has the largest chunk with 160.21kg; methamphetamine is next with 39.015kg, heroin- 31.398kg and cannabis- 25.050kg.

The breakdown of last year's seizure of 479.75kg for the corresponding period shows that cannabis had the biggest chunk with 195.984kg, cocaine was next with 140.692kg and psychotropic substances- 122.91kg.

The NDLEA Commander at the Airport, Alhaji Hamza Umar, said more people were experimenting with drug trafficking because of their insatiable love for money and materialism. He also explained that cocaine seizure was higher this year with 160.21kg compared to 140.692kg made the previous year.

He said, "It will be recalled that in July 2009, a total of 107kg of amphetamine stimulants was intercepted. A single seizure of 78kg was seized from one Ehirim Prince Ifeanyi on July 8 while another 29kg was intercepted from one Ugbobuaku Samuel on July 25 of last year."

Umar said the frequency of arrests and vigilance of narcotic officers had also made drug mules to exercise some restraint in smuggling large quantity of drugs this year.

He said, "This is very crucial to the drug syndicates as several millions of naira is lost by them whenever drugs are seized."

According to Hamza, scanning machines could detect any amount of drug irrespective of the quantity and mode of concealment.

"Besides scanners, there are other huddles for the traffickers to cross like undercover officers deployed at various points as well as sniffer dogs," he said.

The Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, added that the situation appeared to have taken a different dimension this year with drug traffickers adopting a new stratagem in their criminal act.

He said, "The degree of desperation is growing by the day as some of them have resorted to the acquisition of other countries' international passports.

"Barry Hassimiou, Diaby Fode Eba and Simao Lopes, whose real names are Onuwa Everistus from Imo State, Onyia Okwudili and Ibebike Agu who are both from Enugu State, were caught attempting to travel with Guinea international passports. Similarly, Mensah Kwame Anthony, who was travelling with a Ghanian passport, hails from Enugu State and his real name is Osita Nnaji Anthony."

Giade said that the desperation of drug traffickers had thrown up new challenges as their travel pattern was fast becoming unpredictable. He however assured that the agency was prepared to effectively handle moves by drug traffickers to evade arrests, hence the prompt detection of the new stratagem.

He said, "Although drug traffickers are becoming more ingenious, we too have developed advance finesse in counter-narcotics. We are prepared to subvert whatever new tricks drug traffickers will adopt in smuggling illicit drugs."

The spokesman of the anti-drug agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said that 16 suspected drug traffickers were currently excreting narcotic drugs at the international wing of the Lagos Airport. He gave their names and ages as: Emmanuel Okebe Kalu, 37, Barry Hassimiou, 32, Diaby Fode Eba, 31, Ahanihu Chinaemerem Joel, 24, Simao Lopes, 46, Collins Emenike Chinenye, 31, Imagbenikaro Gladys, 27, Okoli Augustine Chidi, 34 and Nwokediuko Davidson Ndubuisi, 32. Others are Ezeakunne Panteleon Omanda,38, Uwakara Kingsley Ifeanyi,35, Uffoh Jachike Johnson, 35 Victor Ighouwhokori, 25, Adibe Wisdom Baloba, 41, Mensah Kwame Anthony, 37, and Enajike Lewis Igho, 36. [/b]

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