About 60 officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have lost their lives since the inception of the Agency to criminal barons in horrific circumstances without discrimination to tribe, tongue, sex or creed of the victims. This information was disclosed yesterday in Lagos by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Akin Olujinmi, during the 2004 Red Ribbon Day in commemoration of NDLEA narcotic agents who died in active duty. In a paper read on behalf of the minister by Bola Odugbesan, there is a very serious linkage between drugs and crimes as most criminal activities in the country have drug connections. [continues 215 words]
New Law Imposes N100 Million Fine Daily On Any Financial Institution That Aids It The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has drawn the attention of financial institutions, particularly banks, to the consequences of a violation of the new money laundering act, stating that the law compels Compliance Officers in the banks to report suspicious transactions that have to do with money laundering to law enforcement agencies for investigation. Delivering a paper entitled: "Recognising, Repor-ting and Combating Suspicious Transactions: Role of the Compliance Officer", at a two-day national seminar with the theme: "Repositioning the Compliance Officer in the Administration of the Money Laundering Prohi-bition", organised by the NDLEA in Lagos for banks and financial institutions officials, NDLEA Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Mr Femi Oloruntoba, said reporting suspicious transactions was one of the mandatory responsibilities imposed on a financial institutions by the law as a tool to fight money laundering. Oloruntoba warned the banks on the consequences of the violation, stating that any defaulting institution was liable to a fine of N100 million for each day the offence continues. [continues 586 words]
Lagos Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday destroyed about 6.9 tonnes of narcoutic drugs and psychothropic substances worth N204,268, 290 arrested from drugs suspects couples of months back. The break down of the drugs set ablaze at the Murital Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), NACHO shed, Ikeja, were cocaine 23.2 kilogrames, heroin 53.4 kilogrames, cannabis 414 kilogrames and diazepam 195.9 kilogrames. The break down of the value of the destroyed drugs were cocaine N70,311,000, heroin 163,522,500, cannabis N44,498 and diazepharm N20,400. [continues 220 words]
Lagos The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Alhaji Bello Lafiaji, has been elected President of the European Working Group of the International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC). His election took place at a conference of the organisation at Lima, Peru, recently. He had the Secretary of the IDEC two years ago. A total of 400 delegates, representing 70 countries were at the conference. Prior to the election, there was an overwhelming vote of confidence on the Nigerian's tenure as secretary of the organisation. He was consequently elected unanimously by participating countries as president. [continues 317 words]
In continuation of its drive against drug trafficking, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted about two tonnes of drugs from different parts of the country. The drugs were intercepted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Ikorodu end of Lagos, Yobe and Anambra States. The drugs included concaine, heroin, indian hemp and psychotropic substances among others. The agency also indicated that reports coming from their various commands have revealed that unscrupulous drug traffickers are in for a tougher time this year because the structure necessary for counter narcotic onslaught is already on ground. [continues 508 words]
Lagos The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency impounded no fewer than 2.3m hard drugs and destroyed 359,202 hectares of cannabis farms in Ondo, Edo and Delta States, between the month of January and October 2003. Just as it arrested 2,317 drug suspects. and prosecuted 732 of them within the period. Revealing this information to THISDAY the Agency's Public Relation Officer (PRO) Mr. Jonah Achema, stated that his organisation has been effective in its war against drug peddling over the year as it set out to block both the sea, airport and land route used for the smuggling of hard drugs into the country. [continues 281 words]
