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Operatives of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are interrogating a South Africa-based cleric
in connection with over 165kgs of narcotics drugs seized at the Apapa
Seaport,
Lagos, The Nation reports.
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are interrogating a South Africa-based cleric
in connection with over 165kgs of narcotics drugs seized at the Apapa
Seaport,
Lagos, The Nation reports.
The
illicit
consignment were traced to John Vincent Arinze, from Ara village, Nise
in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The 52-year-old
suspect was arrested in his hotel room in Lagos. A Mercedes Benz Jeep
belonging to him was also impounded.
illicit
consignment were traced to John Vincent Arinze, from Ara village, Nise
in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The 52-year-old
suspect was arrested in his hotel room in Lagos. A Mercedes Benz Jeep
belonging to him was also impounded.
The suspect, who had
lived in South Africa for over a decade accepted ownership of the
illicit shipment and said he made a big mistake by taking over the business of his late wife.
“I am an evangelist living in Durban,
South Africa. My late wife was into drug trafficking before she died few
years ago. I made a mistake venturing into her business. It is all my
fault,” he stated.
South Africa. My late wife was into drug trafficking before she died few
years ago. I made a mistake venturing into her business. It is all my
fault,” he stated.
The drugs, 92kgs of methamphetamine and 73kgs
of ephedrine with the estimated street value of N.4 billion were found inside two containers of foodstuff meant for
export to South Africa, following meticulous undercover operation by operatives of NDLEA.
of ephedrine with the estimated street value of N.4 billion were found inside two containers of foodstuff meant for
export to South Africa, following meticulous undercover operation by operatives of NDLEA.
The narcotics drugs were hidden inside packs of
melon concealed in foodstuff and cosmetics such as gari, noodles, Knorr and Maggi food seasoning, yam powder, malt
drinks, pepper, milk, herbal hair cream and Golden Morn cereals, Damatol
hair cream, bags of melon, kegs of palm oil, beans, biscuits, sardine
and cartons of Orijin Bitters. During the examination of the containers
marked MSKU 388274-1 and MSKU 424717-0, anti-narcotic officials
detected 20kg of Methamphetamine and 50kg of Ephedrine inside the first
container and 72Kg of Methamphetamine and 23Kg of Ephedrine in the
second container.
melon concealed in foodstuff and cosmetics such as gari, noodles, Knorr and Maggi food seasoning, yam powder, malt
drinks, pepper, milk, herbal hair cream and Golden Morn cereals, Damatol
hair cream, bags of melon, kegs of palm oil, beans, biscuits, sardine
and cartons of Orijin Bitters. During the examination of the containers
marked MSKU 388274-1 and MSKU 424717-0, anti-narcotic officials
detected 20kg of Methamphetamine and 50kg of Ephedrine inside the first
container and 72Kg of Methamphetamine and 23Kg of Ephedrine in the
second container.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the
NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd), said the seizure will
have a positive influence in Nigeria’s fight against narcotics drug.
NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd), said the seizure will
have a positive influence in Nigeria’s fight against narcotics drug.
“This is a product of careful
planning and meticulous tracking of narcotic drugs movement. The
consignments were closely monitored by our undercover agents and
intercepted at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos, following the detection of
narcotics by NDLEA sniffer dogs during screening operation. This will
definitely have a positive influence on Nigeria’s drug control efforts” said the NDLEA boss
planning and meticulous tracking of narcotic drugs movement. The
consignments were closely monitored by our undercover agents and
intercepted at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos, following the detection of
narcotics by NDLEA sniffer dogs during screening operation. This will
definitely have a positive influence on Nigeria’s drug control efforts” said the NDLEA boss
Col. Abdallah reiterated the agency’s commitment to the fight against drug trafficking and prosecution of offenders.
“I am very happy with the success
recorded in this operation. The agency will remain painstaking and
professional in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking
and abuse. We hope to unmask the drug syndicate behind this shipment and
make more arrests soon,” he added
recorded in this operation. The agency will remain painstaking and
professional in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking
and abuse. We hope to unmask the drug syndicate behind this shipment and
make more arrests soon,” he added
The suspect will be charged to court soon.
Photo credit: Sahara Reporters
