NDLEA uncovers meth lab in Ikeja, intercepts UK-bound skunk shipment
Anti-narcotics agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Sunday, said its operatives in Lagos have uncovered a secret laboratory producing illicit drug identified as Methamphetamine (meth), inside a residential community located in the Ikeja area of the state.
According to the agency, when its operatives stormed the location, they met already packaged sachets of the drug and various precursor chemicals used in the production inside the laboratory.
Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement, added that the laboratory is located at No. 4 Bode Oluwo Street, Mende, Maryland, in Ikeja.
“NDLEA operatives stormed the lab on Tuesday 6th June after credible intelligence and surveillance confirmed the illicit substance was being produced in the duplex building. 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 while efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing owner of the house,” disclosed Babafem iin the statement.
In a similar raid, the NDLEA disclosed that its personnel at the Lagos Command on Monday, 5th June ‘arrested two suspects: Wasiu Saliu and Afolabi Banjo with 247 kilograms of skunk at Oyingbo area of Lagos while 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 just as 12.5kg of the same substance was seized from Adebowale Babatunde after his arrest at Mushin on Thursday 8th June.’
The agency further disclosed that a consignment of 3.20kg skunk concealed in native black soap heading to the United Kingdom was intercepted at the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, in Lagos on Wednesday, June 7, while also reporting that ‘a freight forwarding agent involved in the attempt to export the illicit drug, Olowokudejo Oladele Tonyi was arrested.’
NDLEA reported also that ‘a bid to export 3,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg concealed inside women hair attachments to Monrovia, Liberia, by a cargo handling agent, Akinwale Taiwo Bolutife, through the Lagos airport was thwarted by operatives who arrested him during the outward clearance of passengers at departure gate of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.’
In other operations carried out by the agency, across the country, Babafemi said that in Benue State, ‘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 on Thursday 8th June, while another suspect, Ikenna Jonathan Udeze was nabbed at Otuo-Agor, Owan East LGA, 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 on Friday 9th June 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 30kg cannabis at B-Ali Junction, Idanre and 10.4kg of the same substance recovered from the home of a fleeing suspect at Oke Odowo, Idanre on Tuesday 6th June when operatives raided some drug joints in the town.
“In Kebbi state, Alin Bala, 45, and Danzaki Alhaji, 52, were arrested on Thursday 8th June at Goran Maiyaki, Gwandu LGA with 5.9kg cannabis and 3,792 tablets of diazepam while 18-year-old Babangida Mande was nabbed on Friday 9th June 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 LGA; Raji Musa, 25, and Alominile Folashade, 34, nabbed at Gbokuta village in the same LGA on Monday 5th June,” the NDLEA reported.
