NDLEA DESTROYS N50 BILLION COCAINE IN LAGOS

Lagos -- The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday
destroyed about 16.3 metric tones of cocaine valued at about N50bn
regarded as the single largest seizure in the whole of Africa.

The NDLEA operatives had on June 8 impounded a container load of
cocaine at the Tin Can Island Port. The banned substance was said to
have been imported into the country from Peru by a yet to be
ascertained group of persons.

The destruction came just as the Justice Minister and Attorney
General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) said the Federal
Government reform programme was to rid the agency of corrupt NDLEA
officials whom he claimed are not conscientious but chose to aid and
abet those they ordinarily should direct their offence at.

The minister's remarks, it was gathered, might not be unconnected to
the allegation of the sudden, but mysterious disappearance of a
Search Endorsement, which contains items recovered from the FESTAC
home of a drug baron against a senior official of the agency.

Addressing journalists before the destruction exercise, the Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, said the
cocaine, which was concealed in a ship carrying white cement,
actually originated from Peru.

The destruction exercise, he said was the turning point in the
history of the nation's counter narcotic efforts.

"It is the destruction of the single largest seizure of drug ever
made in Africa, which is the 14.2 metric tones of cocaine seized last
month at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, with a street value put at N50bn.

That the seizure is being promptly destroyed is symbolic destruction
of our anger against the offensive drug trade and to signify our
determination not to prevaricate on such exercise in order not to
give the offenders a false hope," he added.

Giade who openly expressed the resolve of the agency to deal with
anybody or group of persons arrested in connection with drug related
offences further stated that the cocaine was contained in 264 bags of
50 kilogramme sacks, conveyed into the country inside a container
marked MSCU2640791 onboard a merchant code named MSC Floriana.

He added that the sacks which contained the drug was mixed in the
container along side 640 bags of 50 kilogramme of white cement.

The Minster of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation who
was the special guest of honour at the occasion revealed that the
Federal Government Committee on Reforms is presently looking at the
agency which a view to refocusing it.

According to him, the target of members of the committee at present
was to present a drug agency that is focused, highly motivated, and
self-driven and result oriented.

"I want to assure you that by the time the ongoing wind of positive
change runs its full course, we would have had the NDLEA of our
dream. It is expected that the reforms would have brought about some
refreshing transformation, having purged itself of any derelicts,
such as corrupt officials who are not conscientious, but chose to aid
and abet those they ordinarily should direct their offensive at' he added.

Even though, the Honourable Minister said it was not to be a witch
hunting exercise, but added that the reform was going to be all encompassing.