SAN FRANCISCO, March 28, (THEWILL) – Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have discovered a letter laden with heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The agency added that the letter, mailed from Bengaluru, India, on Express Mail Service (EMS), was addressed to Yunusa Amusan, 33, in Mushin, Lagos adding that about 480 grams of powdery substance that tested positive for heroin, was found inside the letter.
Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, said the discovery, the first case of heroin letter discovered by the anti-narcotic agency this year, was recorded following the diversification of the Agency’s operations.
“The operations of the Agency have been diversified to cover mail services. Drug control is an intelligence-led operation and the NDLEA under my dispensation will spread its tentacles to all possible areas of narcotic smuggling,” he said.
“We will not relent in taking deliberate and sustained efforts towards preventing drug trafficking under any guise in the country, be it by air, land and water.”
The NDLEA boss disclosed that its investigation show that the suspect, who is in custody, allegedly connived with his uncle living in India to import heroin disguised as letters to Nigeria but “their criminal plan did not materialise due to superior intelligence gathering capacity of the Agency.”
Mabo Olugbenga, Director of Operations and General Investigation of the NDLEA, revealed that the suspect was apprehended following surveillance report on his illicit drug activities.
“The illicit smuggling of narcotic drugs under the guise of letters was reported and closely monitored by the agency,” he said.
“It was confirmed that Yunusa Amusan was recruited by his uncle who lives in India to take delivery of heroin concealed in letters to avoid arrest by law enforcement Agents. The suspect was arrested after collecting the letter and further investigation is ongoing.”
Yunusa, a technician, said: “I run errands for my uncle who lives in India. He used to send money and letters to me to give to his wives and friends. Sometimes, he will ask me to buy foodstuff and send them to him in India and in return, he gives me money to take care and sustain myself. I am single and a native of Ogun State.
“After my Junior Secondary School Certificate, I could not further my education due to lack of sponsorship. I later learnt how to repair television sets but could not rent a shop to start my own business. The letter my uncle sent to me was opened in my presence and other officers, and it was found to contain heroin.”
Story by David Oputah
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