NDLEA PARADES 9 OVER DRUG TRAFFICKING

Lagos

The Zonal Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, at the
weekend paraded 11 persons suspected to be drugs traffickers.

Parading the suspects, the zonal commander, Alhaji Abdullahi Danburam,
said the command last month paraded 11 others with a view to sending
signals to others and their collaborators hell bent on soiling the
image of Nigeria by trafficking in illicit drugs.

He said some Nigerians had gave deaf ears to "our repeated messages to
renounce drug trafficking as a line of business."

The suspects are Abdulrauf Mohammed Nouah, Mustapha Adekunle Ofele,
Suleiman Fatai Adisa, Ifechukwu Basil Chukwudi, and Chukwuezie Gideon
Okoli.

Others are Wilson Okereke, Dr. Ewozie Laurens and Chris Obinna, and
Abdulrauf Abdulwaheed.

Nouah was arrested allegedly with 4,559 grammes of heroin, which he
reportedly ingested, during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airline
on his way to Khartoun, Sudan in company of his elder brother,
Abdulrauf Abdulwaheed Mohammed, who allegedly ingested 630 grammes of
heroin, on April 27, this year.

Nouah alleged that it was his brother Abdulwaheed who gave him the
drugs.

The allegation was confirmed by Abdulwaheed who claimed that one Akeem
of no fixed address gave him the drugs in Ibadan.

The zonal command noted that the arrest of the two brothers was
spectacular because the country of destination was not known for drug
consumption.

"Our investigation however, revealed that the drug had Saudi Arabia as
its final destination. In between the two criminally minded brothers,
a total of 1.085kg of heroin was seized. They would have been paid
$5,000 Thousand US Dollars on arrival in Khartoun", he said.

Ofele, of 30, Jagin Street, Oja-Oba, llorin, Kwara State was
reportedly found heavily pregnant with ingested drugs during the
inward clearance of an Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa on
April 27, 2003.

Upon investigation, he was found to have illegally imported 865
grammes of heroin into the country.

He claimed that one Anene, living in a hotel in Karachi gave him the
drugs.

He revealed that the agency operatives at Seme-Owode border have
swooped on a drug syndicate that specializes in trafficking along that
road leading to seizure of one kilogram of Cocaine during the week.

He expressed confidence the agency was making good progress. "It is in
recognition of this that Nigeria has been certified again this year by
the American Government; a promise kept by our Hon. Chairman/Chief
Executive Alhaji (Dr) Bello Lafiaji OON (fwc) FPA", he said.

He emphasised that the Federal Government was very resolute in its
fight against the drug menace because of its implication on the
citizens, economy and national image.