The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has impounded a total of 4,668.880kg of illicit drugs between January and July this year from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos alone.
The command also said that it apprehended 43 suspects comprising of different nationals within the same period.
Mr. Ahmadu Garba, NDLEA Commandant, MMIA Command disclosed this to journalists today at the office of the agency at the Lagos Airport.
Among the seized substances were psychotropic; Tramadol and Phenacetin, which were 4,449.9kg and 11.18kg respectively.
Further breakdown indicated that a total number of 16. 06kg of cocaine was seized in the seven months, heroin was 7.5kg, cocaine heroin mixture; 6.260, cannabis sativa; 15.64, methamphetamine; 42.88, and ephedrine was 119.46kg.
In all, 43 suspects; 38 males and five females from Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Ghana and Congo Brazzaville were all arrested for the illicit act within the period.
The month-by-month seizures indicated that in January, nine male suspects were arrested, February; seven arrests; six males and one female, March; seven arrests, six males and one female and April, six suspects were arrest comprising four males and two females.
Others were May; six suspects – five males and one female, June; two males and July with additional six males.
Garba explained further that the total kilogrammes of seizures had tripled the ones seized within the same period in 2017 and attributed this to the improved intelligence gathering by its officers at the airport.
He said: “The relationship we have with our international counterparts has been very rewarding because our officers now attend series of trainings, which further improve their intelligence. Also, the issue of Tramadol has contributed to the huge seizures we have made in 2018.
