Pubdate: Mon, 26 May 2003 Source: This Day (Nigeria) Copyright: 2003 This Day. Contact: http://www.thisdayonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2870 Authors: Andrew Ahiante And Akunna Ahiwe 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake