Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted over 64, 863.5 kilogram consignments of nitrous oxide, otherwise known as ‘laughing gas’ at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and Imo states.
The NDLEA Director Of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement on Friday saying the substance was recovered 24 hours after the NDLEA DG ordered a nationwide clamp down on “laughing gas” and three persons were arrested in connection with the substance.
According to Babafemi, following credible intel, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa seaport on Wednesday intercepted two containers marked MSKU 7626856 and MSKU 7689448 suspected to contain cartons of Nitrous oxide and plastic pressure release nozzles imported from China.
During the search of the two containers, the statement said, 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.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri – Onitsha expressway in Imo state on Thursday intercepted three cartons containing 18 canisters of the same substance weighing 11.5kg heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A swift follow-up operation was conducted in the stadium road area of Elekahia, Port Harcourt the same day leading to the arrest of the owner of the shipment, 24-year-old Tonye Kalio.
While commending the officers and men of the Apapa Port, and their Imo state Command counterparts for being proactive and swift, Babafemi said Marwa directed the clampdown on the sale and usage of nitrous oxide would continue nationwide to protect young Nigerians from the devastating effects of abusing the substance.
