NIGERIAN drug enforcement and customs officers have intercepted another container of contraband from Iran, but this time it's 130 kilogrammes of heroin rather than munitions seized in October, reported the Daily Trust.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) received an overseas tip about the consignment coming by sea four months ago and monitored movements closely before the FEU aboard the 1,900-TEU CMA CGM Montenegro out of Iran arrived and was discharged at Tin Can Island Container Terminal at Lagos.
After an initial inspection by customs, found no explosives, the NDLEA carried out a more thorough search and found the drugs.
NDLEA chief Ahmadu Giade said welders cut the container open to reveal the drugs. He said the action finally paid off, as the drugs were traced to some cylindrical equipment in which they were found.
"The discovery marks the beginning of intense investigation. Drug barons will be frustrated by similar undercover operations. We will maximise every opportunity to dismantle drug trafficking cartels. The agency will also collaborate with relevant agencies in its operations," said Mr Giade.
The heroin, he said, was destined for Europe and would have fetched US$9.9 million on the street. He commended the US government for the "growing relationship between both countries", noting that it was imperative in the dismantling of drug trafficking syndicates.
In the explosives case, a Nigerian court charged an alleged member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard with trafficking of arms - concealed in containers shipped from Bandar Abbas to Lagos - the firepower of which, the State Security Service (SSS) said could "sink a country in just three hours," reported London's Containerisation International.
Thirteen shippers associated with the containers were discharged from criminal connection with the consignment at the APMT Apapa box terminal from the CMA CGM Everest in July, discovered in October when it was to be transshipped to Gambia.
Charged is Azim Adhajani, appeared in court along with two Nigerian defendants charged with conspiring to re-export the weapons of war. But Adhajani did not enter a plea, preferring to have the Iranian embassy represent him.
The contraband, labelled "packages of glass wool and pallets of stone", on the bill of lading from CMA CGM, consisted Iranian weapons and munitions, including field artillery class 107mm rockets with a nine-kilometre range.
Source : HKSG, 30.11.10.
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