NDLEA Arrest Three With 64,863kg ‘Laughing Gas’ Consignments

NDLEA agents have intercepted about 64,863.5 kg of the gaseous material at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and in Imo state.

This comes just 24 hours after the Chairman/CEO of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), directed all commands and formations of the Agency to launch an immediate crackdown on the illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, due to its abuse by people who use it for recreational purposes.

According to a statement issued today by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA operatives intercepted two containers marked MSKU 7626856 and MSKU 7689448 at the Apapa seaport on Wednesday July 12, suspected of containing cartons of Nitrous oxide and plastic pressure release nozzles imported from China.

Read Also: NDLEA To Wage War On Nitrous Oxide Aka Laughing Gas

As a result, on the following day, Thursday 13th July, NDLEA officers, Customs officers, and other stakeholders conducted a joint examination of the containers.

“During the search of the two containers, a total of 522 cartons of Nitrous Oxide, containing 16,366 packages weighing 64,852kgs 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,” Babafemi said.

In the same line, the NDLEA spokesperson noted that on Thursday, July 13, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Owerri-Onitsha road in Imo state seized three boxes carrying 18 canisters of the same substance totaling 11.5kg bound for Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“A swift follow up operation was conducted in the stadium road area of Elekahia, Port Harcourt same day leading to the arrest of the owner of the shipment, 24-year-old Tonye Kalio,” Babafemi said.

While commending the Apapa Port officers and men, as well as their Imo State Command counterparts, for being proactive and swift, Marwa stated that the crackdown on illegal nitrous oxide sales and use will continue nationwide in order to protect young Nigerians from the devastating effects of substance abuse and in the overall interest of public health. He praised the collaboration of other sister security agencies and stakeholders in attaining the goal.