A cache of 24.5kg heroin hidden inside carpets has been seized at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos by men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The consignment, according to NDLEA, was described in the airway bill as “Pakistani hand-knotted new woollen carpets” originated from Lahore, Pakistan.
The consignment was said to have left Karachi airport in an Emirate flight as unaccompanied cargo and taken to Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) shed at the Lagos airport.
An online statement signed by the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Michel Ofoyeju and made available to journalists stated that the estimated value of the drug is N294m.
Ofoyeju stated that it was the first time the agency would be discovering drug inside carpets in the country. NDLEA Airport Commander Mr. Hamza Umar said that the consignment was examined by the agency when it was abandoned by the importers.
He said, “The suspicious cargo was monitored by undercover operatives for a week after it arrived. We decided to conduct the search when nobody came to claim it. In all, there were twelve pieces of carpets, but only six contained heroin.
The heroin was prepared into tiny bits inside plastic hollow treads and weaved in a way that makes it difficult to detect unless it is unfastened.”
He also added that the information on the airway bill was found to be incorrect by investigators.
The Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade who described the seizure as breath-taking promised to unveil the importers.
He stated that the drug syndicate did their best by concealing the drug, but it was not good enough to go undetected, adding that if drug barons would not lack concealment methods, “we also will not be tired in detecting narcotics.
This seizure is unique because it is the least place anyone will go to in search for narcotics.
We shall continue with investigation until those behind
No comments:
Post a Comment