The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 40-year-old wanted drug lord at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, while on his way to Saudi Arabia for Umrah(Holy pilgrimage).
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the arrest was made by the operatives of a special operations unit of the agency, after months of intelligence and surveillance on him and his criminal drug activities.
He said the suspect had been arrested and charged for drug offences in the United Kingdom, but jumped bail and escaped to Nigeria.
“Soon after settling down in Lagos, he set up a massive clandestine laboratory in the Lekki area of the state for the production of Colorado, a deadly synthetic cannabis, and other illicit substances.
“At about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 6, the suspect walked into the waiting hands of NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport while attempting to board his flight to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
“He was swiftly driven to his 17 Vincent Eku street, Ogombo, Lekki clandestine laboratory, which has been under surveillance for a while,” said Mr Babafemi.
According to him, the suspected drug lord was arrested with another suspect, found in the building.
“Operatives from the agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring were able to dismantle all installed laboratory equipment.
“This included precursor chemicals and already produced illicit substances, including Colorado, all weighing 148.3 kilograms,” he added.
Meanwhile, at the Sifax bonded terminal in Okota, Lagos, NDLEA operatives, in conjunction with men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies, discovered 105.5kg of Molly at the terminal on Friday.
Mr Babafemi said the drug was discovered with another 500grams of methamphetamine during a joint examination of a shipment.
Also, in Niger State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a suspect in a Volvo truck, marked GRZ 872 XA, along the Kainji-Wawa road on Thursday, November 6.
Mr Babafemi said he was arrested while conveying 87,000 pills of tramadol and 72kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
Reacting, NDLEA chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa commended the dismantling of yet another clandestine laboratory for producing Colorado and other dangerous synthetic substances.
Mr Marwa lauded the kingpin’s arrest in Lekki, which came barely a week after similar actions were taken against another cartel in Ajao Estate, Lagos.
“This shows that these are no doubt the first in the series of what will be many strikes against merchants of death who prey on the weak in our communities.
“Let it be known to those still hiding in the dark that the NDLEA, supported by our local and international law enforcement partners, will continue to hunt them and bring them to justice,” Mr Marwa added.
(NAN)