By Seyi Odewale
As part of the ongoing crackdown on narcotics barons, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recovered no less than 13, 451,466 pills of tramadol 225mh worth N8.9bn in street value in Lagos.
The Director, Media, and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said operatives of the agency had also arrested the suspected drug baron, Chukwukadibia Ugochukwu, in connection to the recovered drugs.
He said the operatives raided one of the mansions of the suspect in the highbrow residential estate, Victoria Garden City, Lekki area of Lagos, adding that the arrest of Ugochukwu, who is the Chairman of Autonation Motors Ltd, was coming barely two months after the NDLEA uncovered a methamphetamine clandestine laboratory in the residence of another suspected drug kingpin in the estate.
Chris Nzewi was arrested on Saturday, July 30, along with a chemist, Sunday Ukah, who was said to have cooked the illicit drug for him.
At least 258.74 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and various precursor chemicals used to produce the toxic drug were reportedly recovered from Nzewi’s home during his arrest.
According to Babafemi said that following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on September 30 stormed Plot A45 Road 2 home of the 52-year-old billionaire drug kingpin.
“A search of the expansive mansion led to the discovery of 443 cartons of Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg. This was in a carton which contained 13,451,466 pills of the drug, while some cartons were already burnt in a fire incident in the house the same day,” he said.
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Babafemi said before his arrest, Ugochukwu, who hails from the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, had been on the agency’s watch list.
The suspect, he said, was one of those behind the tramadol drug cartel in Nigeria.
“Preliminary investigation shows that he has about six mansions within the VGC. one of which he uses to warehouse the tramadol consignment, while he lives in another one at Plot Z-130 Road 67 and uses one as his office.
“Five exotic vehicles had also been located in two of his mansions, out of which two SUVs including a bulletproof jeep had been successfully removed to the agency’s facility,” he said.
*Arrests 121 suspects, seals 13 properties in Kaduna
Meanwhile, operatives of the agency in Kaduna State have arrested 121 suspected drug traffickers and sealed 13 properties belonging to them.
Its Kaduna State Commander, Mr Umar Adoro, who disclosed yesterday in Kaduna that the operation was conducted in September, said 27 notorious drug joints were dismantled across the state.
He said the illicit drug outlets were in Kawo, Kabala Costain, Numba Zango, Zaria City, Sabon gari, Nupe Street, and Unguwar Muazu. Others are Unguwar Shanu, Maraban Jos, Dan Magaji, Hayin Banki, and Kafanchan among others.
He added that among the 121 suspects, 13 were females.
The commander said the drugs seized included 247,172kg Indian hemp, 0.041kg Cocaine, 0.004kg of heroin, 0.363kg of Tramadol, 74, 441kg Psychotropic substance and 0.001kg Methamphetamine.
“The total weight of drugs seized was 322,476kg within the period under review,” he added.
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The Commander appealed to citizens for timely and useful information on illicit drug dealers, to enable the agency to take prompt action.
He advised parents and guardians to always be watchful of their wards on the friends they moved with all the time.
He said the war against drug trafficking and consumption would continue until it was brought to a standstill in the state.
Reacting to the latest drug haul, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the officers and men involved in the operation for their diligence.
Marwa also appreciated Nigerians for supporting the agency in its arduous task of ridding the country of the menace of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
He said, “I’ll like to reassure Nigerians and other stakeholders wherever they are located across the country. This assurance is coming beyond our preparedness to work with them on this onerous task of saving our people from the drug scourge.
“This partnership is a further warning to the drug barons and cartels that there is no hiding place for them anymore. This is because we remain on their trail, and we’ll always get them.”
