Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted over 64, 863.5 kilogram consignments of nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, at the Apapa seaport, Lagos State and in Imo State.
This came barely 24 hours after NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), directed all commands and formations of the agency to begin an immediate clampdown on illegal sale of the gaseous substance.
The directive by Marwa came on the heel of increasing abuse of laughing gas by people who use it for recreational purposes.
As contained in a release by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives of the agency acting on credible intelligence, on Wednesday, intercepted two containers marked MSKU 7626856 and MSKU 7689448.
The two containers were suspected to contain cartons of 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 stakeholders the following day, Thursday, 13 July.
“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 stated.
He added that NDLEA operatives, on patrol along Owerri – Onitsha Expressway in Imo State, on intercepted three cartons containing 18 canisters of laughing gas, 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 same day, leading to the arrest of the owner of the shipment, 24-year-old Tonye Kalio,” Babafemi added.
He stated that the chairman of the anti-narcotics agency has commended the officers and men of the Apapa Port and their counterparts at the Imo State Command for being pro-active and swift.
“Marwa said the clampdown on illegal sale and use of nitrous oxide will continue nationwide to protect young Nigerians from the devastating effects of abusing laughing gas and in the overall interest of public health.
“He commended the cooperation of other sister security agencies and stakeholders towards achieving the set objective,” Babafemi stated in the release.
