Two international airlines, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic have been queried by the Nigerian anti-drug agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over high patronage by drug traffickers.
Agency source revealed to our Correspondent that at the last count, the two airlines have had scores of drug related issues with operatives of the NDLEA, particularly at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
“For instance, between June this year and December, over 35 persons have been arrested in an attempt to try and export or import hard drugs out of or into Nigeria, using Virgin Atlantic and Emirates airlines.”
He added that, over 45 Emirates airline’s passengers, have been arrested by NDLEA, operatives in Kano and Lagos over hard drug related issues.
Speaking to our Correspondent in a telephone interview, the Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, who confirmed the story, added that, “drawing the attention of the airline operators to this ugly development was the most appropriate step to take.”
He stressed that the two airlines have been warned severally over the development and they have promised to check the menace, but from the latest turn of event, it is obvious the airlines are not ready to repent.
“How do you explain arrest of over 10 drug pushers on a single trip on December 2nd, we were still talking about that, when on December 19, five persons were arrested while trying to board Virgin Atlantic airline to Beirut. What type of business is that?”
He added that a strong letter from the agency has been dispatched to the embassy of the two parent countries of the airlines in Nigeria, to do something drastic to change the trend.
According to him, “they did not respond to our letter and till now that you and I are talking, we have not got any response from any one of them. From all indications, it is like they have called our bluff, so we have to officially and publicly warn them.”
NDLEA added that some of the suspects were arrested in Beirut, and they have all made confessional statements stating how and where they ingested the drugs.
It was gathered that the Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs have acknowledged the receipt of the letters. “We are still waiting for them. We want them to give us the go ahead to proceed.”
The NDLEA boss stressed that the months of November and December were crucial months to them. “These are particular months that we usually have cases of drug to deal with.
