Seven suspects have been detained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and 37.67kg of pure cocaine worth N684 million has been seized in Rivers.
This was revealed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday by Mr. Isaac Oludare, the NDLE Commander at Port Harcourt International Airport.
Oludare claims that the command detained five suspects and two accomplices at the airport while seizing 37.67 kg of pure cocaine.
The suspects were Brazilians who had returned, according to the commander.
He claimed that one of the suspects was a former prisoner who had just completed his sentence in Brazil but had returned to Nigeria with illegal drugs.
Oludare added that a different suspect was currently on trial before a Lagos Federal High Court for alleged cocaine importation.
“These drugs were concealed in a way that you understand that it is a factory work. They were carefully packaged in a cream, plastic bottles of perfume, tires of lounge mower for cutting grass and sealed.
“We have finished investigations on the suspects and they are remanded and prosecution is ongoing,” he said.
Oludare stated that the command in the last three months had recorded tremendous success in arrest and seizure of illicit drugs.
According to him, the command has also conducted public enlightenment on the dangers of drug trafficking and abuse.
He added: “We have met with different groups within the airport – the Domestic Agent Cargo Association, the airport community – telling them about the dangers and consequences of drug abuse.
“We are collaborating with the Federal Airport Authority (FAN) to sensitise students who come on excursion to the airport on the dangers of drug abuse and drug trafficking.
“We have been able to sensitise 90 different schools and 5,500 students, starting from FAN Staff School to other primary, secondary and university students, telling them about drug abuse, the dangers and consequences.”
Oludare called for collective efforts from stakeholders and the public to tackle the menace of drug abuse and trafficking in the country.
He urged the public to stay away from illicit drugs to avoid mental and psychological ill health.
The commander also urged parents to seek help for their children involved in drugs at the NDLEA correctional centres.
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