By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a secret laboratory producing Methamphetamine in a residential community located in Ikeja, Lagos State.
The agency disclosed that already packaged sachets of the drug and various precursor chemicals used in the production were recovered by its personnel.
The clandestine laboratory located at No. 4 Bode Oluwo Street, Mende, Maryland, Ikeja, was stormed by anti-narcotics officers of the agency on Tuesday, June 6, after credible intelligence and surveillance confirmed the illicit substance was being produced in the duplex building.
According to a statement signed by NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, 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.
Similarly, officers of the Lagos Command of the agency the previous day, Monday, June 5, arrested two suspects: Mr Wasiu Saliu and Mr Afolabi Banjo, with 247 kilograms of skunk in the Oyingbo area of Lagos while Mr 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 Mr Adebowale Babatunde after his arrest at Mushin on Thursday, June 8.
Meanwhile, a consignment of 3.20kg skunk concealed in native black soap heading to the United Kingdom has been intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday, June 7, and a freight agent involved in the attempt to export the illicit drug, Mr Olowokudejo Oladele Tonyi arrested.
In a similar vein, a bid to export 3,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg concealed inside women’s hair attachments to Monrovia, Liberia, by a cargo agent, Mr Akinwale Taiwo Bolutife, through the MMIA was thwarted by operatives who arrested him during the outward clearance of passengers at the departure gate of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.
In Benue, a suspect, Mr Emmanuel Onah, was arrested during a routine stop and search of vehicles at the Vandeikya checkpoint with a total of 61,790 pills of tramadol seized from him on Thursday, June 8, while another suspect, Mr 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, June 9, from Agara Ogbonna, 35, along Owerri – Onitsha expressway, Imo state, just as operatives in Ondo state arrested two suspects: Mr Friday Augustine, 25, and Mr 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, June 6 when operatives raided some drug joints in the town.
Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, Mr Alin Bala (45), and Mr Danzaki Alhaji (52), were arrested on Thursday, June 8, 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, June 9, 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 Mr Adewole Abidemi, 31, who was arrested at Araromi Oke Odo in Ife South LGA; Mr Raji Musa, 25, and Alominile Folashade, 34, nabbed at Gbokuta village in the same LGA on Monday, June 5.
