Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) have intercepted a drug, ephedrine, with a total weight of 83.390kgs dropped at the airport by a suspected trafficking syndicate.
According to a statement by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, the ephedrine which was concealed in female hair attachment by a suspected syndicate was said to be going to South Africa.
The statement noted that the seizure was the largest quantity of ephedrine, an energizing drug, seized at the Lagos airport with an estimated street value of N4 billion.
It was also revealed that three suspects, including luggage handlers and a clearing agent at the airport, are currently being interrogated in connection with the crime.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd) said the agency’s counter-narcotic measures at the airport aided the feat.
Ephedrine is a precursor ingredient used in the production of methamphetamine, described as ‘a strong central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly used as a recreational drug.’
Abdallah explained that operatives at the departure hall discovered the substance during outward screening of a South African Airline flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.
The NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, gave the names of the suspects as Unegbu Daniel Chukwu, 42, Ettah Joseph, 28, and Wopara Bright, 31.
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