Malaysia-bound passengers face tougher screening over drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Tuesday said Malaysia-bound passengers would henceforth be subjected to tougher airport screening, saying the agency had placed the route on red alert. A statement by the anti-narcotics agency said the decision followed the increasing number of arrests made on the route. The statement by the Head, Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said, "The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, has placed all Malaysia-bound flights on red alert. The drastic measure is necessitated by the increasing number of arrests made on the route and the need to prevent obstinate drug traffickers from smuggling drugs to Malaysia where drug offences attract capital punishment." The NDLEA boss called on airlines and passengers flying to Malaysia to submit to security screening, which he said, had been intensified on the Nigeria-Malaysia route. He said, "The increasing number of arrests on the Nigeria-Malaysia route is alarming. Last year we made two arrests of drug suspects going to Malaysia but since January this year, we have recorded a total of 21 arrests at the Lagos airport alone. We must be prepared to make sacrifices in protecting the image of the country and prevent the execution of our nationals abroad on account of drug crimes. "The route has been placed on red alert and we seek the understanding of airlines and passengers on the extra security screening measures. This is an issue of life and death and we are working out strategies to engage stakeholders in enlightenment programmes." Giade said the latest measure had started yielding positive results with the arrest of a passenger that concealed 600 grammes of methamphetamine in the sole of his sandals. NDLEA Commander at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Alhaji Hamza Umar, gave the name of the suspected drug trafficker as Onyemaechi Chibuzor.
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