Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and sealed a secret laboratory producing deadly illicit methamphetamine in a residential community in Ikeja, Lagos.
Already packaged sachets of the drug and various precursor chemicals used in the production were also recovered from the laboratory.
This was as the anti-narcotics agency intercepted UK -boind skunk in native black soap and tramadol pills packed in women hair in another operation.
These were contained in a press release, issued today, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
The clandestine laboratory was said to be located at No. 4, Bode Oluwo Street, Mende, Maryland Ikeja.
It was stormed by anti-narcotics officers of the agency, last Tuesday, after credible intelligence and surveillance confirmed the illicit substance was being produced in the duplex building housing the laboratory.
“At the end of the search, one kilogram 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.
“Efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing owner of the house containing the laboratory,” Babafemi stated.
Similarly, officers of the Lagos Command of the NDLEA had, last Monday, arrested two suspects- Wasiu Saliu and Afolabi Banjo- with 247 kilograms of skunk at the Oyingbo area of Lagos.
Tijani Damilola was nabbed at Isheri with 12.5 litres of skuchies and 98kg of cannabis sativa belonging to a fleeing suspect recovered at Akerele area of Agege.
12.5kg of the same substance was also seized from Adebowale Babatunde after his arrest at Mushin last Thursday.
Meanwhile, a consignment of 3.20kg skunk concealed in native black soap heading to the United Kingdom has been intercepted by NDLEA operatives.
The consignment was intercepted at the NAHCO Export Shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, last Wednesday.
The freight agent allegedly involved in the attempt to export the illicit drug, Olowokudejo Oladele Tonyi, was also arrested.
Similarly, a bid to export 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed inside women hair attachments to Monrovia, Liberia through the MMIA has been thwarted.
A cargo agent who was said to be connected with the tramadol pills, Akinwale Taiwo Bolutife, was arrested by operatives 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.
“Another suspect, Ikenna Jonathan Udeze was nabbed at Otuo-Agor, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State with 208kg cannabis hidden in his Toyota Camry car marked ABJ 117 MR.
“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.
“Operatives in Ondo State arrested two suspects: Friday Augustine (25) and Segun Akintudoye (20), with 30kg cannabis at B-Ali Junction, Idanre.
“10.4kg of the same substance was as 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, last Thursday, at Goran Maiyaki, Gwandu Local Government Area with 5.9kg cannabis and 3,792 tablets of diazepam.
“18-year-old Babangida Mande was nabbed, last Friday, along Mararaban Yauri-Kebbi Road, with 6kg cannabis and 658 tablets of diazepam.
“In Osun State, a total of 115.9kg 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) were nabbed at Gbokuta Village in the same Local Government Area, last Monday,” Babafemi added.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Imo, Kebbi, Osun, Benue, Edo and Ondo commands for the sealing of the laboratory, seizures and arrests of the past week.
He charged them and their counterparts across the country to remain vigilant and keep their focus on the corporate goal of the agency.
