Drug trafficking: NDLEA arrests Kenya Airways staff with 3.1kg substance at Lagos airport

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a clearing agent working with Kenyan Airways as a profiler at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, over unlawful exportation of 3.1 kilogrammes of cannabis to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The officials said they detected the suspected dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis packed as gift items in a consignment of foodstuff meant for export as cargo shipment.

Ahmadu Garba, NDLEA airport commander, said the discovery was made when the suspect, Sumaila Enanche, brought the consignment for pre-shipment examination.

According to him, “the suspect was arrested during screening of cargoes at the airport. We found three parcels of cannabis beautifully packed as gift items weighing 3.1kg inside a consignment of foodstuff, which he brought for export to Dubai through Kenyan airline flight.”

Sumaila has two years working experience as a clearing agent at the Lagos airport.

Ahmadu Giade, chairman, NDLEA, said any clearing agent that engaged in drug trafficking should be prosecuted, saying “clearing agents must be professional in accepting consignments because they are liable when they fail to produce the owner of a cargo that contains narcotics.

“They have a responsibility to know their customers and also get them to be present during cargo examination. I commend the officers for the arrest because if not for their vigilance the drugs would have been mistaken for gift items.”

The NDLEA boss called on agents and other airport workers to resist inducement by members of drug trafficking organisations and report suspicious persons and cargoes promptly. He also assured that the suspect would soon be arraigned.