July 14, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted over 64, 863.5 kilogram consignments of nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and in Imo State.
This is coming barely 24 hours after Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the anti-narcotic agency, ordered an immediate clampdown on the illegal sale and use of the gaseous substance following its abuse by people for recreational purposes.
A statement issued on Friday, by the Spokesperson of the Agency, Femi Babafemi, said, “Following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa seaport, on Wednesday, intercepted two containers marked MSKU 7626856 and MSKU 7689448 suspected to contain cartons of Nitrous oxide and plastic pressure release nozzles imported from China.
“As a result, an NDLEA statement said on Friday, that a joint examination of the containers was carried out by officers of the Agency, men of the Customs Service and other stakeholders on Thursday.
“During the search of the two containers, the statement said a total of 522 cartons of Nitrous Oxide, containing 16,366 packages weighing 64,852kgs, were recovered along with the paraphernalia for recreational use.
“The importer of the consignment, 30-year-old Stephen Eze and his agent, Michael Chukwuma, were thereafter, arrested and detained for further investigation.
“In the same vein, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri – Onitsha expressway in Imo State, on Thursday, intercepted three cartons containing 18 canisters of the same substance weighing 11.5kg heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“A swift follow-up operation was conducted in the stadium road area of Elekahia, Port Harcourt, same day, leading to the arrest of the owner of the shipment, 24-year-old Tonye Kalio.”
While commending the officers and men of the Apapa Port, and their Imo State Command counterparts for being proactive and swift, Marwa said the clampdown on the illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide will continue nationwide to protect young Nigerians from the devastating effects of abusing the substance and in the overall interest of public health.
He commended the cooperation of other sister security agencies and stakeholders towards achieving the set objective.
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