By Oghenekevwe Laba
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a customs clearing and forwarding agent over exportation of 72.320kg of methamphetamine worth about 1.8 billion naira in international market. The seizure which is the single highest recorded since January was made at the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. A total of 36 parcels of methamphetamine hidden inside the filters were meant for export to Mozambique in a South Africa airline flight.
According to a statement made available to Urhobotoday said NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport Mr Hamza Umar while commenting on the arrest said that the mode of concealment was faultless. “If not for the training we have and the commitment of officers, it is difficult to detect the drugs because the mode of concealment is faultless. You need to go the extra mile to detect the drugs” Hamza stated.
The suspect, Mr Tony Mordi said that he was given only N228,000 naira by his client to send the consignment to Mozambique. According to Tony, “I am a licensed customs clearing and forwarding agent. One of my customers called me from Mozambique requesting that I should handle the shipment of his consignment. I was given only N228,000 naira for the shipment. I want my wife to understand and help in taking good care of our kids”.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade who described the seizure as the single largest since January 2013 said that the Agency will prosecute any agent caught clearing narcotics. “This is the single largest seizure of methamphetamine since the year began. We have in the past arrested licensed clearing agents in connection with narcotics. This is a huge seizure considering the monetary value and it is also a threat to security. The Agency is working hard to incapacitate drug syndicates and will not hesitate to prosecute any agent found wanting in the discharge of their professional duties” Giade stated.
The agency in the past two years has uncovered 5 clandestine laboratories in Nigeria where methamphetamine is produced. The factories have been closed down and most members of cartel are being prosecuted.
The suspect who hails from Delta State is married with four children and will soon be charged to court.