The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has disclosed how it made use of dogs in drug detection as its canine unit was instrumental to a number of large seizures of narcotics in the nation’s airports in the last one year.
The agency also disclosed that between January and November 2015, NDLEA dogs sniffed out at least 575kg of narcotics meant for importation and exportation by drug barons in the country.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, briefing newsmen in Lagps, said that in another seizure on April 2, 2015, the agency’s dogs discovered 3.23kg of compressed India hemp well packaged in a carton and meant for export at the Nigerian Postal Services International Mail Processing Centre at MMIA in Lagos.
Ofoyeju said the NDLEA Canine Unit made its first seizure of drugs on January 17, 2015 during a luggage screening at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos in which cocaine weighing 1.3kg was uncovered during the inward screening of luggage on an Emirate airline flight from Brazil via Dubai.
According to him, “The drugs were detected by the dogs in a 20-foot container declared as food items destined for South Africa. The drugs were neatly concealed in packs of Golden Morn cereals, Indomie noodle packs and gallons of palm oil. Other items found in the container are maize, vegetables, palm oil, malt drinks, seasoning, noodles and cereals.
The main suspect behind the illegal shipment, Tochukwu Ubah, was arrested by NDLEA’s Special Enforcement Team, SET, in a joint operation with the canine unit operatives at the old local airport upon arrival from Enugu.
“The largest discovery made by the dogs was in November 2015 when a seizure of 260kg of Methamphetamine and 310kg of Ephedrine were discovered by the dogs at the Apapa seaport in Lagos,” Ofoyeju said.
Ofoyeju said he was apprehended after an intense undercover operation as preliminary investigations by the NDLEA revealed that the suspect also used aliases such as Etochukwu Alaek Weubah and Eto Ubah.
“The 42-year-old suspect, who has now been charged to court, had a company, Visoch Resources Limited, which he used as a cover for his drug business. He is believed to be a major player in drug smuggling hiding under the cover of floor tile business,” Ofoyeju stated.
Acting Chairman of the agency, Mrs. Roli Bode-George said that in view of the capacity of the dogs to detect drugs, the agency is planning to increase the number of the dogs from seven to 20 for effective coverage of Lagos operations.
Commander of the NDLEA’’s Canine Unit, Mr. Daniel Onyezebeh, said the dogs have been very useful in interdiction and search operations, adding that at the moment, the dogs conduct regular searches on containers at Nigeria’s seaports collaboration with special area commands.
The Commander added that apart from conducting searches on suspicious incoming and outgoing cargoes, the dogs are also involved in West African Joint Operations at the land borders.
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