National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has begun a clamp down on illegal activities of drug dealers and drug addicts, with seizure of over 64, 863.5 kilogram consignments of the gaseous substance at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and in Imo state respectively
The seizure was coming barely 24 hours after the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired) directed all commands and formations of the Agency to begin an immediate clampdown on illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas following its abuse by people who use it for recreational purposes
Operatives of the anti-drug agency had intercepted the drug dealers, following credible intelligence gathered on their activities
Director of Media & Advocacy of
NDLEA, Femi Babafemi who made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja, explained that NDLEA operatives at the Apapa seaport on Wednesday 12th July intercepted two containers marked MSKU 7626856 and MSKU 7689448 suspected to contain cartons of Nitrous oxide and plastic pressure release nozzles imported from China.
According to Babafemi, a joint examination of the containers was carried out by NDLEA officers, men of the Customs Service and other stakeholders the following day, Thursday 13th July.
He added that during the search of the two containers, a total of 522 cartons of Nitrous Oxide, containing 16,366 packages weighing 64,852kgs were recovered along with the paraphernalia for recreational use.
The importer of the consignment, 30-year-old Stephen Eze and his agent, Michael Chukwuma were thereafter arrested and detained for further investigation.
Similarly , NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri - Onitsha expressway in Imo state on Thursday 13th July intercepted three cartons containing 18 canisters of the same substance weighing 11.5kg heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
"A swift follow up operation was conducted in the stadium road area of Elekahia, Port Harcourt same day leading to the arrest of the owner of the shipment, 24-year-old Tonye Kalio," he stated
While commending the officers and men of the Apapa Port, and their Imo state Command counterparts for being pro-active and swift, Marwa said the clampdown on illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide would continue nationwide to protect young Nigerians from the devastating effects of abusing the substance and in the overall interest of public health.
He commended the cooperation of other sister security agencies and stakeholders towards achieving the set objective.
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