Lagos airport epicentre of drug trafficking in Nigeria – Marwa

The chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Buba Marwa Thursday said Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos is the epicentre of drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Marwa based his assertion on the volume of drugs seized at the airport since the beginning of the year.

“Murtala Mohammed International Airport remains the epicentre of the spectacular seizures, including what stands today as the singular biggest seizure from an individual in 15 years, which was 26.840kg of cocaine smuggled from Brazil in January; 24.05 kg of heroin in April; 27.95 kg of cocaine in May, and 26.15kg of heroin in May,” Marwa said at the presidential villa where he appeared as a guest in the weekly briefings coordinated by Nigeria’s Presidential Media Team.

He said that between January 25, and October 15, more than 2.7 million kilograms of illicit drugs have been seized by the operatives of the agency.

The NDLEA boss said the agency is working on a bill that will prescribe harsher penalties for drug traffickers in the country.

Marwa said NDLEA is seeking a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of between 25 years and life sentences for anyone caught by its operatives indulging in drugs activities.

“As of October 15, the Agency has recorded the following: 9, 355 arrested traffickers, including six drug barons, Over 5,000 drug offences cases filed in court, over N100 billion worth of drugs and cash recovered, more than 2.7 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs were seized in 10 months, 5,579 drug users were counselled and rehabilitated by NDLEA, a figure that gives a fair balance between our drug control and drug demand efforts,” Marwa said.