Busted: What NDLEA recovered from four Nigerians, Mexicans will shock you (Photo)
– An NDLEA sting operation uncovered a methamphetamine-making laboraory
– The NDLEA warned that the increased production of drug in Nigeria might increase cases of drug abuse
– The agency urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities
Four Nigerians and four Mexicans have landed in the net of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after a sting operation in Delta state uncovered a huge methamphetamine-making laboratory.
According to Sahara Reporters, the suspects behind the syndicate were arrested in simultaneous operations in Lagos, Obosi, a town near Onitsha in Anambra state and at the location of the lab in the Asaba area of Delta state.
The suspects apprehended by the NDLEA
According to a statement by the agency signed by Ofoyeju Mitchell, the methamphetamine laboratory resembled those found in Mexico and was the first lab of its kind to be discovered in Nigeria.
Colonel Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, the chairman of NDLEA disclosed that the laboratory had the capacity to produce 3,000 kg and 4,000kg of methamphetamine per production cycle.
The apprehended Mexicans were methamphetamine production experts and it was believed they were hired by the Nigerians who were the joint owners of the lab. Their names were given as Chibi Aruh, William Ejike Agusi, Umolu Kosisochukwu, and Umolu Chukwuemeka. The Mexican suspects are Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno, Rivas Ruiz Pastiano, Castillo Barraza Cristobal, and Partida Gonzalez Pedro.
READ ALSO: Woman vomits, excretes chunks of cocaine at Abuja airport
The NDLEA boss revealed that the Mexicans were apprehended during active production in an undercover sting operation.
“The cartel first brought two Mexican methamphetamine experts, Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno and Rivas Ruiz Pastiano, to Nigeria. But because of the size of the laboratory, coupled with the volume of work, two additional Mexicans, Castillo Barraza Cristobal and Partida Gonzalez Pedro, were added,”
items recovered from the raid include 1.5 kg of finished methamphetamine, 750 liters of liquid methamphetamine, industrial pressure pots, gas cylinders, gas burners, facial masks and numerous chemicals. The agency also seized a Toyota Tundra, a Mercedes Benz Jeep ML, and a Toyota Corolla car.
Abdallah warned that serious measures must be taken to fight the rise of drug in the country.
“Nigeria methamphetamine is now competing with others in Asia and South Africa markets. The super laboratory does not need ephedrine because it uses the synthesis method. Drug cartels are now shifting from simple method of methamphetamine production to a more complex process.”
READ ALSO: NDLEA nabs 60-year old monarch for drug trafficking
He noted that the Asaba lab could pose a serious danger to the country as more people could be exposed to drug abuse.
“More citizens will equally be targeted by drug cartels that are searching for drug mules to smuggle drugs outside the country. This has the tendency to increase the number of Nigerians in foreign prisons thereby affecting the image of our country.”
. “Methamphetamine dump pollutes the environment. This is because, for every one pound of methamphetamine produced, about three to six pounds of toxic waste is created. This can contaminate the water table within 500 meters radius from the laboratory. Even plants close to the dump were found to be dead. The laboratory contains highly poisonous solvents and gasses,”
The agency urged members of the public to report suspicious factories and explained that a methamphetamine laboratory could be identified by its secretive operations or detected by the irritation and smell caused by chemicals as well as colored water appearing in sewage.
The post Busted: What NDLEA recovered from four Nigerians, Mexicans will shock you (Photo) appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.