Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an alleged major illicit drug kingpin by the name of Okeke Chijioke in Anambra State.
The 44-year old man was nabbed by operatives of the agency on Saturday, July 10, 2021, following credible intelligence and surveillance, a statement released on Sunday said.
It was disclosed that the suspect stocked his warehouse at 3 Atunya Street, Maryland Estate, Nkwelle, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State with Tramadol branded as Tarkadol.
After a search of his warehouse, a total of 548,000 tablets of Tarkadol weighing 302.500 kilograms were recovered, with the suspect accepting ownership of the substances recovered.
Authorities at the NDLEA said a preliminary investigation has established that Tarkadol is a brand of Tramadol that has just been introduced into the market to evade attention.
“The substance has also tested positive to amphetamine. The drug was equally labelled 100mg pain reliever on its packs to avoid scrutiny, while laboratory tests confirmed it’s a 225 milligrams drug.
“It was further discovered that the drug was manufactured in India and smuggled into Nigeria without NAFDAC number or certification.
“During the search on the warehouse, a double-barrel pump gun with 3 live cartridges, which license expired in 2019, was also discovered and recovered,” a part of the statement issued by the agency stated.
In another related bust, the Benue State Command of the NDLEA on road patrol in Apir village on July 14 intercepted and seized 28,400 capsules of tramadol from the suspect named Mr Dankawu Madaki, who hails from Misau Local Government, Bauchi State.
The NDLEA in the statement disclosed that the two suspects named in Anambra and Benue States are expected to be charged to court as soon as proper investigations have been completed.
Commending the officers and men of the Anambra and Benue State Commands for sustaining the offensive action in the ongoing efforts to mop up illicit drugs from every community in all parts of Nigeria, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Mr Mohamed Buba Marwa, charged them to remain unrelenting in the discharge of their duties.
