Pubdate: Tue, 25 Jul 2006
Source: This Day (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2006 This Day.
Contact:  http://www.thisdayonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2870
Author: Eugene Agha
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

NDLEA DESTROYS N50 BILLION COCAINE IN LAGOS

Lagos -- The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday 
destroyed about 16.3 metric tones of cocaine valued at about N50bn 
regarded as the single largest seizure in the whole of Africa.

The NDLEA operatives had on June 8 impounded a container load of 
cocaine at the Tin Can Island Port. The banned substance was said to 
have been imported into the country from Peru by a yet to be 
ascertained group of persons.

The destruction came just as the Justice Minister and Attorney 
General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) said the Federal 
Government reform programme was to rid the agency of corrupt NDLEA 
officials whom he claimed are not conscientious but chose to aid and 
abet those they ordinarily should direct their offence at.

The minister's remarks, it was gathered, might not be unconnected to 
the allegation of the sudden, but mysterious disappearance of a 
Search Endorsement, which contains items recovered from the FESTAC 
home of a drug baron against a senior official of the agency.

Addressing journalists before the destruction exercise, the Chairman 
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, said the 
cocaine, which was concealed in a ship carrying white cement, 
actually originated from Peru.

The destruction exercise, he said was the turning point in the 
history of the nation's counter narcotic efforts.

"It is the destruction of the single largest seizure of drug ever 
made in Africa, which is the 14.2 metric tones of cocaine seized last 
month at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, with a street value put at N50bn.

That the seizure is being promptly destroyed is symbolic destruction 
of our anger against the offensive drug trade and to signify our 
determination not to prevaricate on such exercise in order not to 
give the offenders a false hope," he added.

Giade who openly expressed the resolve of the agency to deal with 
anybody or group of persons arrested in connection with drug related 
offences further stated that the cocaine was contained in 264 bags of 
50 kilogramme sacks, conveyed into the country inside a container 
marked MSCU2640791 onboard a merchant code named MSC Floriana.

He added that the sacks which contained the drug was mixed in the 
container along side 640 bags of 50 kilogramme of white cement.

The Minster of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation who 
was the special guest of honour at the occasion revealed that the 
Federal Government Committee on Reforms is presently looking at the 
agency which a view to refocusing it.

According to him, the target of members of the committee at present 
was to present a drug agency that is focused, highly motivated, and 
self-driven and result oriented.

"I want to assure you that by the time the ongoing wind of positive 
change runs its full course, we would have had the NDLEA of our 
dream. It is expected that the reforms would have brought about some 
refreshing transformation, having purged itself of any derelicts, 
such as corrupt officials who are not conscientious, but chose to aid 
and abet those they ordinarily should direct their offensive at' he added.

Even though, the Honourable Minister said it was not to be a witch 
hunting exercise, but added that the reform was going to be all encompassing.
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