Nigeria’s anti-drug trafficking agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, announced on Saturday the discovery of a laboratory for the production of methamphetamine. They also announced the arrest of four Nigerians and four Mexicans suspected to be involved in the drug business.
The laboratory, is located in Asaba, Delta State, was detected by the Special Enforcement Team (SET) of the agency, the NDLEA Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, said during a press conference at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.
“This is the first super laboratory discovered in the country,” Mr. Abdallah said.
“This laboratory is similar to the ones found in Mexico in terms of size and has a capacity of between 3, 000 kg and 4, 000 kg of methamphetamine per production cycle,” he added. A kilogram of methamphetamine goes for about $6000, an official said at the press conference.
The NDLEA boss said “another significant feature of this laboratory is that the production process is more technical and sophisticated because it uses the synthesis method of methamphetamine production”.
The eight suspects were arrested following raids in Lagos, Obosi , Anambra State and at the laboratory in Asaba, Delta State - Mr. Abdallah .
“Those arrested include four Nigerians believed to be joint owners of the laboratory and four Mexicans who are methamphetamine production experts hired as technical partners into the country,”.
The four suspects are Chief Chidi Aruh, William Ejike Agusi, Umolu Kosisochukwu and Umolu Chukwuemeka. Others are Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno, Rivas Ruiz Pastiano, Castillo Barraza Cristobal and Partida Gonzalez Pedro.The large warehouse used for methamphetamine production is located in an industrial area along Ibuzor Road, Asaba in Delta State.
The NDLEA said the four Mexicans were arrested in active production exercise inside the laboratory. Their residence was also traced to number 4C Ekulu Terrace, GRA, Enugu.
“Our investigation revealed that a successful test production was done at the laboratory in February 2016. The laboratory was raided while the to second production cycle was ongoing. Items recovered at the laboratory include 1.5kg of finished methamphetamine and 750 liters of liquid methamphetamine. Other items found in the laboratory include industrial pressure pots, gas cylinders, has burners, facial masks and numerous chemicals,” Mr. Abdallah.
Also recovered, were a Toyota Tundra, Mercedes Benz Jeep ML and a Toyota Corolla car.
“This development is both a cause for worry and a reason for celebration,” - Mr. Abdallah. “It is worrisome because the rise of super laboratories will put Nigeria on the global spotlight in methamphetamine production”.
He said the process of production applied in the methamphetamine laboratory discovered in Asaba is a more sophisticated operation than the laboratories, discovered in Lagos and Anambra State.
“While the smaller laboratories adopted the cooking method, this super laboratory uses the synthesis method,” .
NDLEA said, the solvents discovered in the laboratory,were highly poisonous, the gases were highly combustible and corrosive capable of irritating or causing damage to respiratory system and even human skin. Entering such laboratory without adequate protection can damage major body organs. NDLEA said, added that $100, 000 (N35 million) will be needed to clean the lab.
Legal Difficulties
This is the 11th methamphetamine factory discovered in five years in Nigeria, none of the perpetrators have been successfully prosecuted by the NDLEA legal team because the Drug suspects from Bolivia for instance, claimed that they could not speak English and their case has been stalled in court until the court can find interpreters.
Courtesy viviang
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