Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted illicit drugs worth over N2billion at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.
The Agency also arrested three suspected traffickers.
According to a statement on Monday by the Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, one of the suspects, Aniede Bright was arrested on Sunday, 28th March 2021, during the outward clearance of passengers on Air Maroc with 7.1 Kg of Methamphetamine carefully concealed in food spices and packed in a Swiss polo suit case.
He said the illicit substance with street value of over N2 billion was bound for Spain.
The Commander, MMIA Command of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Garba said: “Unarguably, the closure of borders occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for the surge in the price of these drugs. For instance, the price of meth in Australia had increased from 200 dollars to 600 dollars per gramme due to supply cut, hence the desperation by the traffickers and barons alike.”
In a related development, the Command also intercepted one Bamidele Adeyemo at SAHCO Export Shed of the airport with 800 grammes of cannabis sativa while operatives also seized 19.95 kilogrammes of green leaves suspected to be khat.
The cannabis, he said, was cleverly concealed in foodstuff bound for Dubai, UAE.
Babafemi said in a follow-up operation, one Asonye Christian was arrested in connection with 800 grammes seizure of cannabis, while investigations were ongoing with a view to establishing more leads and getting the owner of the khat leaves seized.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA. Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd) while commending the men and officers of the MMIA Command for the arrests and seizures, said the Agency remained committed to its new maxim of offensive action against the activities of drug barons and traffickers wherever they are across Nigeria.
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