How NDLEA busted cannabis cartel at MMIA
Written by Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen, Lagos
Following the discovery of a cartel that specialises in cannabis smuggling through the conveyor belt at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade has charged security agencies at the airport to be alert to the illegal activities of drug dealers.
He has directed that NDLEA staff strength at the baggage Unit be increased while some of its agents are permanently stationed at the gate of the basement leading to the Tarmac.

The Agency is also calling for the illumination of the conveyor belt tunnel and installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) monitors.

This he said is to give support to the motorised patrol team while urging security agents to work as a team, noting that national security is not a one man affair.

“NDLEA cannot fight and win the battle against illicit drugs in isolation. In the same vein, no country is an island. We must collaborate and work together,” the NDLEA boss stated.

The journey towards dismantling the cartel began on March 3, 2009 when a Nigerian, Nnaemeka Daniel Offorkaile was arrested in Beijing China by Beijing Anti-Smuggling Bureau over 87.25 kg of cannabis concealed in two packages.

Nnaemeka departed Nigeria through the MMIA Lagos on March 1, 2009 aboard Qatar Airways flight and arrived Beijing on March 2, 2009 with two luggages but immediately proceeded to Guangzhou without collecting any of them.

He was arrested the following day when he went to collect his luggage.

The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) reported the arrest of Nnaemeka by the Chinese authorities to the NDLEA through two letters dated March 23 and 26 2009.

Consequently, the NDLEA Chairman Ahmadu Giade ordered the investigation of the matter to unravel the circumstances that led to the exportation of the said 87.25 kg of cannabis by Nnaemeka to China.

All staffs of security agencies that were on duty during the screening of passengers on the Qatar Airways flight on the 1st of were quizzed.

The investigative team led by a Superintendent of Narcotics, Nanzing Sallah discovered that the maximum weight of any check-in luggage by Qatar Airways is 32 kg and that the Airline does not accept payment of excess luggage.

The NAHCO staff that supervised the handling of luggage on March 1, 2009 claimed she did not record any excess luggage as indicated by the seizure made in China.

This was also corroborated by the official record of Qatar Airways that the weight recorded for both luggages at the Lagos airport was found to be 18 kg only.

It was also revealed that the numbers of the two bags checked-in by Nnaemeka were hand written, a development found to be abnormal.

As a result of the observed lapses, NDLEA called for increased vigilance by various security agents.

On May 2 2009 however, operatives of the agency and officials of Qatar Airways were alerted of two suspicious bags.

The operatives made three arrests of the bag handlers found to be staff of OTIS namely; Hammed Oyesanya, Dosunmu and Stephen Adebowale.

When interrogated, they owned up to the crime and also indicted two other colleagues of theirs. While conducting search on the luggage, 52 compressed wraps of cannabis were found weighing 49 kg.

In the course of investigation, one Okoli Monday said to be the owner of the 49 kg of cannabis was arrested.

Few days later, one Madu Sunday Emeka brought a bag to Richard Ekpo both of whom are members of the syndicate. They were both arrested and when the bag was searched, 17 compressed wraps of cannabis weighing 17.5 kg were found inside.

Naijas on the move

Where are those people who were claiming it was a set-up by the chinese authorities? Those who were blaming racism?