Two Nigerian anti-narcotics officials ‘abscond’ with seized drugs

Two officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement ‎Agency, NDLEA, have been declared wanted after absconding with narcotics last month.

Daniel Goska, ‎a Superintendent of Narcotics, and Ndubuisi Ughor, a Chief Narcotic Agent, disappeared from their duty posts after a drug suspect, Dayson-Eddie Ifeanyichukwu, was nabbed with 74.4 kilogrammes of banned drugs at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Mr. Ifeanyichukwu and three other suspects had been arrested by the anti-narcotics agency for unlawful exportation of the banned drugs.

The officers were last seen on duty at the Enugu Airport on August 7, the NDLEA said in a statement on Monday.

According to the NDLEA rules, absence from duty for 21 days is punishable by dismissal.

Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA’s chairman, said any staff indicted under the law would be treated equally.

“The agency has taken necessary steps by stopping the salaries of the officers and declaring them wanted.

“Winning the war against illicit drugs demands that while dislodging drug cartels; we must ensure that members of staff comply with best practice at all times.

“Efforts are ongoing to charge the officers in line with the rules of engagement. The agency is moving forward and will continue to purge itself of undesirable persons who are deficient in discipline and integrity,” Mr. Giade said.

The NDLEA chairman called on members of the public ‎with useful information about their whereabouts to report to the nearest office.

The incident was not the first time government officials would collude with drug trafficking suspects to evade justice.

During the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, ‎a National Committee for the Reform of the NDLEA, set up to probe the agency in 2007, indicted NDLEA prosecutors and prison officials.

According to the committee’s report, ‎11 NDLEA prosecutors, 14 lawyers, and 11 prison officials operated a cartel which specialized in releasing convicted drug couriers.

Between 2005 and 2006, the cartel secretly released 197 convicted drug barons and couriers sentenced to various jail terms.