Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, have foiled an attempt by a Customs-licensed Clearing and Forwarding Agent, Ugochukwu Okoroji (31), to illegally ship liquid methamphetamine from Nigeria to South Africa.
The intercepted liquid methamphetamine, which was the first of its kind in Nigeria, weighed seven kilogrammes (7kg) and was disguised as vegetable oil.
The illegal drug was discovered by the NDLEA operatives at the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during a routine check.
Ugochukwu, who brought the consignment for shipment through a South African Airline flight, has confessed to the offence after he was arrested and interrogated by the Agency.
NDLEA Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar, said that the discovery was the first seizure of liquid methamphetamine. “This is the first seizure of liquid methamphetamine. There were six containers in all but only two were found to be vegetable oil while the remaining four contained liquid methamphetamine. With the assistance of our forensic personnel, we were able to extract the crystallized methamphetamine which weighed 7kg,” Hamza stated.
The suspected clearing and forwarding agent who accepted ownership of the drug in his confessional statement said: “I have been working as a clearing and forwarding agent since 2008. Since 2003 when I came to Lagos, I have been struggling to make ends meet. I told the NDLEA officers before the examination that the consignment belongs to me. I felt bad when the drug was found and I was apprehended,” he explained.
Ugochukwu, who hails from Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, lives in Lagos with his wife and a four-month-old baby.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade, who praised the arresting officers for the discovery said: “This discovery is commendable. Drug barons may devise fresh plots but our superior counter-strategies will always void such moves. We shall continue to prevent illegal drug trade through effective drug law enforcement as well as anti-drug abuse advocacy campaigns,” Giade stated.
He said the suspect will soon be charged to court.
