Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA at the Apapa seaport in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria have intercepted two containers marked MSKU 7626856 and MSKU 7689448 containing cartons of Nitrous Oxide commonly known as Laughing Gas, and plastic pressure release nozzles imported from China.
As a result, a joint examination of the containers was carried out by NDLEA officers, men of the Customs Service, and other key players.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the breakthrough follows credible intelligence barely 24 hours after the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (Rtd) directed all commands and formations of the Agency to begin an immediate clampdown on illegal sale and use of Nitrous Oxide, otherwise known as Laughing Gas following its abuse by people who use it for recreational purposes.
During the search, two of the containers had a total of 522 cartoons of the illicit substance containing 16,366 packages weighing 64,852 kilogrammes. They 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.
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In the same vein, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State, South-East Nigeria on Thursday, July 13 intercepted three cartons containing 18 canisters of the same substance weighing 11.5 kilogrammes heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State in South-South Nigeria.
A swift follow-up operation was conducted in the Stadium Road area of Elekahia, Port Harcourt, on the same day leading to the arrest of the owner of the shipment, 24-year-old Tonye Kalio.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
