Men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday intercepted a consignment of over 64, 863.5 kilograms of nitrous oxide known as laughing gas, following its abuse by people who use it for recreational purposes at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and in Imo State port.
NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, made this known via a statement on Friday, saying that the agency followed a credible intelligence report in tracking the consignment at the Apapa seaport on Wednesday 12th July.
According to the statement, two containers marked MSKU 7626856 and MSKU 7689448 suspected to contain cartons of Nitrous oxide and plastic pressure release nozzles imported from China.
He said 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 13th July.
The statement reads: “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 13th July 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 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 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 the substance and in the overall interest of public health.