The Chairman,National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah says N225 trillion worth of drugs was seized at the Tin Can and Apapa ports in Lagos since 2006.
Colonel Abdallah noted that the seized drugs included over 15,064kg of cocaine and heroin.
In a statement, the NDLEA boss said drug barons were targeting the ports for their illicit drug activities but the Agency would resist their scheming.
He added that the presence of the NDLEA at the ports was of immense economic and security benefit to the country and that the Agency would maintain alertness and frustrate any action targeted at disrupting her operations at the seaports.
The Agency has the approval of the Federal Government to operate at the ports and this onerous responsibility shall be diligently and effectively discharged. Abdallah reiterated that the NDLEA will take reasonable measures in preventing the seaports from being used for drug trafficking.
Some of the spectacular drug seizures made at the ports include 14.2 metric tons of cocaine imported from Chile and intercepted in June 2006 at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos. The drug which was concealed in a shipment of white cement was rated the single largest seizure of cocaine in Africa and fifth largest in the world.
There is also the celebrated case of 450.400kg of cocaine hidden in processed wood. The drug imported from Chile by a Taiwanese and a Chinese drug baron was intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos in July 2010.
In addition, 137.73kg of heroin was intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos in November 2010. The heroin hidden in industrial equipment and sewing threads was imported from the Republic of Iran. Cocaine weighing 165kg packed in 150 square parcels inside 38 cartons of floor tiles imported from Bolivia was equally intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos in January 2011.
A week later, 110kg of cocaine was detected inside twenty-five (25) packs of floor tiles containing 4 parcels each which originated from Bolivia also at Tin Can port.
In May 2012, 113.49kg of heroin industrially concealed in three moulding machines imported from Islamabad, Pakistan in a 20 feet container was intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos in May 2012.
The shipment was monitored and intercepted by NDLEA officials at Okota area of Lagos while it was being taken to a private warehouse.
The NDLEA boss called on port operators to collaborate and support the Agency in ensuring zero tolerance for drug trafficking at the ports.
