Operatives
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are interrogating a South
Africa-based evangelist over 165kgs of narcotics drugs seized at the Apapa
Seaport, Lagos.
The
92kgs of methamphetamine and 73kgs of ephedrine were detected inside two
containers of foodstuff meant for export to South Africa.
The
arrest and seizure are a product on intense undercover operation by the NDLEA.
The estimated street value of the drugs is N1.4 billion.
The
drugs were hidden inside packs of melon concealed in foodstuff and cosmetics
such as gari (cassava flakes), noodles, Knorr and Maggi food seasoning, yam
powder, malt drinks, pepper, milk, herbal hair cream and Golden Morn cereals.
Other
items in the container are 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.
The
total weight of the drugs is 165kgs.
Chairman
and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd), said
that the seizure had significant influence on the campaign against narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances.
He
said: “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”.
The
NDLEA boss added that the agency would remain meticulous in detecting drugs and
prosecuting 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,” Abdallah promised.
Officers
successfully traced the illicit consignment to a 52-year-old man who claimed to
be an evangelist by name John Vincent Arinze who was arrested in his hotel room
in Lagos. A Mercedes Benz Jeep belonging to him was also impounded at the time
of the arrest.
The
suspect hails from Ara village, Nise in Awka South Local Government Area of
Anambra State. John who had lived in South Africa for over a decade accepted
ownership of the illicit shipment.
The
suspect, in his statement, 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.
He
will soon be charged to court.
Tags
Society