The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Command, Abuja has intercepted 21.9 kilograms of cocaine.
In a statement signed by the Public Affairs Officer, Jonah Achema, the illicit substance concealed in two suite cases is the largest single seizure by the Command hinting that the two unaccompanied and unclaimed suit cases were discovered after the arrival of Ethiopian Airline, ET 910 in Abuja from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Jonah explained that during the inward clearance of the flight, the vigilant officers of the Command became suspicious upon noticing that the two brief cases were abandoned on the conveyor belt without any of the passengers claiming them.
According to him, the Commander directed the officers to keep an eye on the suitcases and informed the airline and its handlers of NDLEA’s interest in the luggage noting that after few days of not claiming the luggage, the commander formally contacted the station Manager of Ethiopian Airline and NAHCO Aviance being the handler for the Airline, indicating the suspicion of the Agency of the suitcases and placed a standing order that NDLEA should be invited before the luggage would be released to the owner.
After many weeks of no claim by the owners, the Commander informed the Airline of the need for a search to be conducted on the unclaimed suitcases. The Airline officials, including the baggage handlers along with the Department of State Services, Aviation Security, and Nigeria Customs Service were invited to the NDLEA Office where the search was conducted.
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He also noted that investigation is ongoing and that the Command was currently liaising with Ethiopian Airline to get more information in order to unravel the identity of the couriers.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
