NDLEA Uncovers Meth Lab in Lagos, Recovers Packs of Illicit Drug

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a secret laboratory producing deadly illicit substance, methamphetamine, in a residential community located in Ikeja, Lagos state.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, at the clandestine laboratory located at No. 4 Bode Oluwo Street, Mende, Maryland Ikeja were found
already packaged sachets of the drug and various precursor chemicals used in the production when the anti-narcotics officers of the agency stormed on it last Tuesday after credible intelligence and surveillance confirmed the illicit substance was being produced in the duplex building.

He said at the end of the search, one kilogramme of already produced and packaged methamphetamine, quantities of precursor chemicals and other items used for the production of the deadly drug were recovered from the house while efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing owner of the house.

In the same vein, officers of the Lagos Command of the agency the previous day, last Monday arrested two suspects: Wasiu Saliu and  Afolabi Banjo with 247 kilogrammes of skunk at Oyingbo area of Lagos while Tijani Damilola was nabbed at Isheri with 12.5 litres of skuchies and 98 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa belonging to a fleeing suspect recovered at Akerele area of Agege just as 12.5 kilogrammes of the same substance was seized from Adebowale Babatunde after his arrest at Mushin last Thursday.

Babafemi also disclosed that a consignment of 3.2 kilogrammes skunk concealed in native black soap heading to the United Kingdom was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos last Wednesday and a freight agent involved in the attempt to export the illicit drug, Olowokudejo Oladele was arrested.

He said a bid to export 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed inside women hair attachments to Monrovia, Liberia, by a cargo agent, Akinwale Taiwo, through the MMIA was thwarted by operatives who arrested him during the outward clearance of passengers at departure gate of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.

In Benue, a suspect, Emmanuel Onah was arrested during a routine stop and search of vehicles at the Vandeikya check point with a total of 61,790 pills of tramadol seized from him last Thursday, while another suspect, Ikenna Jonathan was nabbed at Otuo-Agor, Owan East local government area of Edo state with 208 kilogrammes cannabis hidden in his Toyota Camry car marked ABJ 117 MR.

He said no less than 235 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23.5 litres and 1,500 pills of tramadol and Swinol were recovered last Friday from Agara Ogbonna, 35,  along Owerri – Onitsha expressway, Imo state, just as operatives in Ondo state arrested two suspects: Friday Augustine, 25, and Segun Akintudoye, 20, with 30 kilogrammes cannabis at B-Ali Junction, Idanre and 10.4 kilogrammes of the same substance recovered from the home of a fleeing suspect at Oke Odowo, Idanre last Tuesday when operatives raided some drug joints in the town.

In Kebbi state, Alin Bala, 45, and Danzaki Alhaji, 52, were arrested lastThursday at Goran Maiyaki, Gwandu loca government area with 5.9 kilogrammes cannabis and 3,792 tablets of diazepam while 18-year-old Babangida Mande was nabbed last  Friday along Mararaban Yauri-Kebbi road, with 6 kilogrammes cannabis and 658 tablets of diazepam. In Osun state, a total of 115.9 kilogrammes cannabis was recovered from Adewole Abidemi, 31, who was arrested at Araromi Oke Odo in Ife South local government area; Raji Musa, 25, and Alominile Folashade, 34, nabbed at Gbokuta village in the same local government area last Monday.

Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Imo, Kebbi, Osun, Benue, Edo and Ondo Commands for the seizures and arrests of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their counterparts across the country to remain vigilant and keep their focus on the corporate goal of the agency.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

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