The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), had on Wednesday,
January 14, 2015 disclosed that about 229 Nigerians were deported from
various countries in 2014 for offences bordering on drug trafficking.
The head of media and publicity of the agency, Mitchel Ofoyeju, who
made this disclosure added that arrests by the agency at the Muritala
Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in the past two years
increased by 16.22 per cent while drug seizures decreased by 33.68 per
cent.
Ofoyeju further disclosed that the agency’s commander at the MMIA,Mr
Hamza Umar, in 2013 as apprehended 93 drug suspects with 878.81kg of
narcotics according to New Telegraph.
However, the figures increased in 2014 as 129 suspects which included
118 males and 11 females were arrested for drug trafficking with
436.065kg of drug seizures.
The 2014 result analysis showed that cocaine has the largest quantity
with 120.44kg followed by Methamphetamine with 108.645kg, cannabis
sativa (107.855kg), heroin (51.01kg), psychotropic substances (37.285kg)
and ephedrine (10.83kg).
The estimated street value of the seized drugs in 2014 is N2.9 billion.
Umar revealed that a total of 117 drug suspects were nabbed most of
which were from Ethiopian airlines, Emirates, Etihad, South African and
Qatar.
He said, “A total of 44 suspects were apprehended trying to import narcotics into the country.
“South Africa, China and United Arab Emirates top the list of preferred destinations by suspects.
“The command received 229 persons who were deported on drug related charges.”
Umar said that out of the 229 drug deportees, 39 were deported from
Italy, 37 from the United States, 36 from Spain, 31 from Norway,22 from
Thailand.
14 persons were deported from Saudi Arabia, 13 from Switzerland, 7
from France, 5 from United Arab Emirates4 from Greece, while Brazil and
Sweden had three each.
Australia, India and South Africa deported two persons each while
Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Indonesia, Ireland, Portugal, Turkey Uganda and
United Kingdom deported one person each. Twenty-one arrests were made
on Ethiopian Airlines, 17 on Emirates, 12 on Etihad Airways, 11 on South
African Airways, 10 on Qatar Airways and seven on Turkish Air.
Air France and Arik Air had two arrests each; Kenyan Airways and
Royal Air Maroc recorded five each, while Alitalia and Rwand Air had
four arrests each. Egypt Airline had three arrests, Cargolux two, while
Africa World Airline, Iberia, KLM and Lufthansa had one arrest each.
0 comments :
Post a Comment