The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a drug syndicate who specializes in the manufacture of methamphetamine in Anambra state after thirteen months of intense surveillance by the Special Enforcement Team (SET).
The suspect identified as Chukwunwendu Sylvester Ikejiakwu aka Blessed of Ozubulu, a 37-year-old is said to be deeply involved in unlawful exportation of illicit drugs, unlawful assembling as well as operating three methamphetamine production laboratories in Anambra state.
Briefing the press in his Ikoyi office on Wednesday, the Chairman of NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade said the suspects who floats several companies under the cover of motorcycle parts business is running a drug cell that has international affiliation.
Some of his companies include: Blessed Benita Global limited, Ideal Motorcycle Company limited and God’s Special Enterprise limited. He was also said to be recruiting and sponsoring drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy while paying them an average of $5, 000 per trip.
Explaining their mode of operation, Giade said Chukwunwendu unlawfully operate a clandestine laboratories located at Akubuezem Nnewi, Anambra while he employs one Raphael, a professional methamphetamine cook and pays him N500, 000 for his service and N700, 000 for the purchase of precursor chemicals per production.
The suspects who was arrested in his home town Ozubulu has two Nigerian and one Ghana passports. To perfect the acts, he uses different names in the passports. In one of the passport, he used Ikechukwu Sylvester Chukwunme with No: 04272646; Samson Odinakar with No: A03472814 and Anthony Yeboah Frank, Ghana passport No: H2437245.
Giade added that a 23kg of methamphetamine intercepted along Badagry expressway en-route Benin Republic on the 19 February, 2015, was later traced to the suspect.
He pointed out that through the illegal drug deal, Chukwunwendu has acquired stupendous wealth with 16 bank accounts; several buildings in both Lagos and Anambra state as well as fleets of cars.
Reacting to National Daily question why the agency has not deemed it fit to seek for prosecutorial powers as well as review some sections of their laws to provide harsh punitive measures, Giade said that cannot be done without recourse to fundamental human rights of citizens stressing that “I don’t think we should kill a citizen for trafficking in drugs,” Giade added.
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