NDLEA discovers illicit drug labs, arrests kingpin
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The
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Amadu Giade, yesterday disclosed that the
agency has discovered three clandestine laboratories used for illegal
mass production of methamphetamine, an illicit drug.
He added that sufficient evidence had been gathered on the suspect to ease his prosecution.
Giade, who described the arrest as the latest outstanding operational success recorded by the agency, added that “NDLEA apprehended the suspected leader of the drug syndicate in his country home at Ozubulu after 13 months of intense surveillance.”
He expatiated: “The 37-year-old suspected drug kingpin was found to be deeply involved in unlawful exportation of illicit drugs and unlawful assembling, as well as running of methamphetamine production laboratories in the eastern part of Nigeria.
“He shuttles between his country home in Ozubulu, Nnewi and No. 2, St, James Close, Ajao Estate, Isolo where he resides in Lagos for his drug business.”
Giade said that the agency equally uncovered that the suspect is the group managing director of the Blessed Group of Companies.
“He hides under the cover of motorcycle parts business in running a drug cell that has international affiliation. His companies include Blessed Benita Global Limited, Ideal Motorcycle Company Limited and God’s Special Enterprise Limited. He specialises in recruiting and sponsoring drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy. He also pays his couriers an average of $5,000 per trip,” he stated.
During a search on one of the laboratories at his Nnewi house, 2.615kg of liquid methamphetamine was found in a yellow plastic jug and 250grammes of crystallized methamphetamine concealed in a white transparent polythene bag, , the NDLEA chief disclosed.
Others are containers of iodine, acetone, hydrochloric acid, weighing scale, masks and hand gloves among others,” the NDLEA boss added.
Also recovered from him was the paraphernalia for drug concealment similar to the ones seized from drug couriers at the airports and land borders. These include an electronic weighing scale, assorted artefacts, laptop bags, motorcycle parts, air compressors, bus and truck mirrors, araldite and Atiso paint, processed brown envelopes and impulse sealer. Others are transparent packing nylon and carbon paper, tower foil paper, needles, threads, super glue and many more.
The suspect has two Nigerian international passports and one of Ghana, all bearing his photographs with different names. The NDLEA is investigating over 16 bank accounts belonging to Ikejiakwu in different banks. He was said to have a Toyota Venza with vehicle registration No AAA 18 BP, a Peugeot 406 with vehicle registration No FST 587 AS, a Q5 Audi 4-Runner with vehicle registration No EPE 546 CF and a Toyota Sienna SUV with vehicle registration No KRD 399 CG.
He was also alleged to have bought a piece of land at No. 21A, Joy Avenue, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos in 2009 at the cost of N25 million and built on it in 2012 a three-story building estimated at N90 million. He also bought a property at No 2, St. James Close Ajao Estate for N17m and built a five-bedroom duplex on it at the cost of N25m.
Giade
revealed that the illegal drug factories were detected in Akubuezem
Nnewi, Anambra State, while the owner, a suspected drug kingpin,
Chukwunwendu Sylvester Ikejiakwu, a.k.a. Blessed, has been arrested by
NDLEA operatives.
Giade made this revelation in Lagos while briefing journalists on the recent successes of the agency. The NDLEA boss stated that Ikejiakwu is also the leader of an international drug trafficking syndicate that recruits and sponsors drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy, among other countries.
Giade made this revelation in Lagos while briefing journalists on the recent successes of the agency. The NDLEA boss stated that Ikejiakwu is also the leader of an international drug trafficking syndicate that recruits and sponsors drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy, among other countries.
Giade, who described the arrest as the latest outstanding operational success recorded by the agency, added that “NDLEA apprehended the suspected leader of the drug syndicate in his country home at Ozubulu after 13 months of intense surveillance.”
He expatiated: “The 37-year-old suspected drug kingpin was found to be deeply involved in unlawful exportation of illicit drugs and unlawful assembling, as well as running of methamphetamine production laboratories in the eastern part of Nigeria.
“He shuttles between his country home in Ozubulu, Nnewi and No. 2, St, James Close, Ajao Estate, Isolo where he resides in Lagos for his drug business.”
Giade said that the agency equally uncovered that the suspect is the group managing director of the Blessed Group of Companies.
“He hides under the cover of motorcycle parts business in running a drug cell that has international affiliation. His companies include Blessed Benita Global Limited, Ideal Motorcycle Company Limited and God’s Special Enterprise Limited. He specialises in recruiting and sponsoring drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy. He also pays his couriers an average of $5,000 per trip,” he stated.
During a search on one of the laboratories at his Nnewi house, 2.615kg of liquid methamphetamine was found in a yellow plastic jug and 250grammes of crystallized methamphetamine concealed in a white transparent polythene bag, , the NDLEA chief disclosed.
Others are containers of iodine, acetone, hydrochloric acid, weighing scale, masks and hand gloves among others,” the NDLEA boss added.
Also recovered from him was the paraphernalia for drug concealment similar to the ones seized from drug couriers at the airports and land borders. These include an electronic weighing scale, assorted artefacts, laptop bags, motorcycle parts, air compressors, bus and truck mirrors, araldite and Atiso paint, processed brown envelopes and impulse sealer. Others are transparent packing nylon and carbon paper, tower foil paper, needles, threads, super glue and many more.
The suspect has two Nigerian international passports and one of Ghana, all bearing his photographs with different names. The NDLEA is investigating over 16 bank accounts belonging to Ikejiakwu in different banks. He was said to have a Toyota Venza with vehicle registration No AAA 18 BP, a Peugeot 406 with vehicle registration No FST 587 AS, a Q5 Audi 4-Runner with vehicle registration No EPE 546 CF and a Toyota Sienna SUV with vehicle registration No KRD 399 CG.
He was also alleged to have bought a piece of land at No. 21A, Joy Avenue, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos in 2009 at the cost of N25 million and built on it in 2012 a three-story building estimated at N90 million. He also bought a property at No 2, St. James Close Ajao Estate for N17m and built a five-bedroom duplex on it at the cost of N25m.
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/index.php/news-menu/news/58243-ndlea-disco#JeaZV7ycoQSiFuBM.99
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