US$25,773200 worth of heroin seized at Nigerian airports

The seizures were made at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, respectively.

CAPE TOWN, April 26 (ANA) – Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has intercepted and seized consignments of heroin and khat with a street value of over N10billion (US$25773200), according to a statement by the agency on Monday.

The seizures were made at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, respectively.

According to the statement, during cargo examination at Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) Import Shed, at the MMIA, a freight agent had presented a cargo from South Africa with an Ethiopian Airline flight.

“The officers subsequently conducted a search of the cargo, during which a suspected brownish substance was discovered concealed inside a red bag popularly called Ghana-must-go,” as reported by news outlet Pulse Nigeria.

Six suspects have so far been arrested in follow up operations, while the substance had tested positive to heroin, with a total weight of 24.05kg, say authorities.

Furthermore, in a similar development, the MAKIA Command of the Agency in Kano, has also intercepted and seized a consignment at its cargo shed, meant for export to Manchester, United Kingdom.

According to the agency a sample of the suspected substance in the consignment was sent for laboratory analysis and the result came out positive for Khat, weighing 36kg.

The total weight of illicit drugs seized at the two international airports was 61.3kg.

Authorities say that further investigations were still ongoing to ascertain the true owners of the illegal consignment.

African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay