Heroin Hidden Inside Balls And Woollen Carpets Seized At Lagos Airport

Sniffer dogs, used by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have detected three consignments of heroin hidden inside balls and woollen carpets, the agency said on Saturday.

The heroin, which was imported from Pakistan, and was to be cleared at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Shed, Murtala Muhammed international airport in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has a total weight of 29.260 kilogrammes, NDLEA said.

“The rug consignment of 14 kilogrammes came as cargo on KLM flight while the other two consignments of balls weighing 10.230kg and 5.030kg were imported on Saudi Arabia Airline. The estimated street value of the drug is N351 million,” said Mitchell Ofoyeju, the NDLEA’s spokesperson.

Ofoyeju did not say when were the goods seized.

According to the Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, the goods were abandoned by the importers.

“The drug was factory packed in the cartons containing the balls. The rug concealment was also factory packed because we had to tear and unfasten to recover the drugs. Four rugs were found to contain heroin. So far, no arrest has been made but the cases are under investigation,” Umar was quoted as saying.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade has vowed to incapacitate drug trafficking syndicates in the country through counter measures.

“Every drug seizure is important to us because of the value of the drugs and the fact that every seizure made advances the anti-drug campaign. This seizure is important to the country because the damage the drug would have caused cannot be quantified Drug trafficking cartels may be sophisticated in drug concealment, but the seizures are indicators of Nigeria’s counter efforts. We will not relent in protecting the country from the activities of drug traffickers,” Giade was quoted as saying.

The NDLEA boss said his men will scuttle any plans of drug barons and stop them from using Nigeria for drug trafficking.

NDLEA said investigation is on-going.