Drug: Lagos now Columbia...... as NDLEA uncoveres illicit drug factory in Lagos

 Emeka Ibemere

Unknown to Lagos State residents, their ‘city of excellence’ has gradually strolled into the comity of nations tagged as places where illicit drugs are produced.

In the last two years, more than six clandestine factories, producing illicit drugs have been uncovered inside remote areas of the State from where the drug traffickers pick their ‘wares’ and headed to its places of consumption-America and Europe.

 Leaving no stone unturned in its effort to rid Lagos State, of illicit drug trafficking and abuse, the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), stormed the sleepy community of Shapeti, off Lekki-Epe, Expressway, Lagos State and discovered another methamphetamine Clandestine Laboratory.

 NDLEA says Methamphetamine is a powerful addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.

According to the agency’s investigation, the current laboratory is the sixth of such illegal methamphetamine production factories uncovered in the last two years. It’s located opposite two private nursery schools.

Mitchell Ofoyeju, the agency’s Public Relations Officer told Daily Newswatch that citing such dangerous laboratory close to school is highly injurious to public health and safety.

The schools are Rock of Ages Crèche, Nursery and Primary Schools and Regal Gems International School.

It was gathered that the building used for the illegal production has been sealed by NDLEA.

Methamphetamine weighing 31.7kg was also recovered from the laboratory.

A Nissan Xterra Jeep belonging to suspected masterminds of the laboratory was impounded along with other documentary and material evidences.

Michael Anum, a 38 year old businessman who has dual nationality of Nigeria and South Africa has been arrested in connection with the laboratory.

Mr. Anum is alleged to be the owner of a transport company in South Africa. The suspect is currently being investigated by the anti-narcotic Agency. 

NDLEA Lagos State Commander, Aliyu Sule who supervised the operation disclosed that the Command acted on intelligence reports.

“We acted on an intelligence report about the illicit activities taking place at the laboratory. When we raided the premises, we observed that methamphetamine production was in progress. A total of 31.7kg of methamphetamine have been seized at the laboratory”, Sule stated.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade commended the officers for the discovery. “This latest discovery of illegal Methamphetamine laboratory is commendable. The Agency is determined to arrest this disturbing drug trend in the country. Drug barons have no hiding place in the country because our counter-intelligence service will soon detect their inimical activities and bring them to justice”, Giade said.

However, the NDLEA boss ordered full degree of investigation into the matter while assuring Nigerians that the Agency would not rest until the threat of narcotics is eliminated.

In his words, “drug cartels locate their laboratories close to schools and residential buildings regardless of the risk of contamination to innocent school children, their teachers and other residents. No matter their antics, we shall continue to dislodge drug production and trafficking syndicates”.

The NDLEA boss added that efforts are ongoing to ascertain a possible link between the suspect and other drug syndicates both within and outside the country.

 “We are working to establish a link between the suspect and other drug syndicates. Our records show that these cartels daily recruit drug mules to smuggle locally produced methamphetamine to South Africa, Asia, Europe and America. The Agency will continue to make the exit points impregnable through superior drug control techniques,” Giade added.

According to the agency, strategies are being adopted by the Agency to address the drug problem. According to the Chairman, this includes capacity building of officers on clandestine laboratory operations.

He said capacity building of officers would be done through series of local and international training programmes. He disclosed that five laboratories have so far been discovered in Lagos while one was detected in Nanka, Anambra State.

While reassuring Nigerians of a peaceful society, Giade urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious factories to the agency.

 “Let me urge members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious drug activity to the Agency. A clandestine laboratory can be detected by a strong smell of urine or unusual chemicals, jars containing clear liquid with a white or red colour of solid on the bottom and chemicals”.

Methamphetamine is a whitish, odourless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder. It is often called meth, chalk, ice and crystal. Health experts say abuses of methamphetamine could increase the risk of contracting or transmitting HIV and hepatitis B and C.

This, they said could be possible through sharing of contaminated syringes, needles, and other paraphernalia.

Intoxicating effects of methamphetamine alters judgment and inhibition resulting to unprotected sex and accidents.

Toxins from methamphetamine production could also remain in the environment around a production area long after it has been shut down.

Methamphetamine even in small doses could also increase wakefulness and physical activity while also decreasing appetite. It medically confirmed to cause cardiovascular problems such as rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat and increased blood pressure. Chronic abuse is characterised by anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behaviour. Other features include paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations as well as delusions.

 The five areas in Lagos State where laboratories have been discovered are in Monkey Village, Iba area of Lagos; Daily Times Estate, Satellite Town; Silver Estate, Isolo; and now Shapeti, area of Lekki.
The fifth one was discovered in Nanka, Anambra State.

 The growing discovery of illegal methamphetamine production plants in Lagos is giving the Lagos State Government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, serious concern.

“The new discovery of clandestine laboratories for methamphetamine production in Lagos is the first alarm of insecurity in the state”, Mr. Fashola said at a meeting with NDLEA’s boss, Ahmadu Giade, at the state house in Alausa earlier this year.

“Since crimes like armed robbery, rape are often committed under the influence of drugs, we must first fight drugs in order to fight crime. At this time of high security challenges, drug control should be a high priority issue. Every society that wants to promote peace and security must fight drugs,” Fashola added.
According to Giade, his agency would do everything to nip the trend in the bud and if allowed to spread would add to the growing addiction of illegal substances in the country as well as become a potential cash cow for criminal and terrorists.
“Money in hands of criminal gangs exposes the state to the associated risk of terrorism financing, money laundering, political violence and murder. There is also the threat of creating local market for the drug thus increasing the number of drug addicts,” he said.

NDLEA, discovered hard drug manufacturing company in Kirikiri Town, Lagos, on February 3, 2012 and  another plant where similar drugs was also uncovered at Satellite Town in Oriade Local Government Council Area of the state.

The drugs, according to the agency, tested positive for methamphetamine.  In this case, three Bolivians and a Nigerian were arrested in connection with the discovery. 

Two brothers were also declared wanted by the anti-drug agency for allegedly being accomplices to the arrested suspects.

It was gathered that the arrested suspects were currently being tried and would be prosecuted and deported after the end of their jail sentence. It was learnt that the company had been in operation for the past eight months in Nigeria.

Speaking on the development, Giade said that the laboratory was detected by operatives attached to the Lagos State Command. Items recovered at the production area include 41.150kg of ephedrine, 4.8kg of methamphetamine, other chemicals and sundry gadgets used in the laboratory. Three vehicles, a Honda Accord Saloon car, a Honda CRV Jeep and a Toyota 4 Runner Jeep were also impounded.
The three Bolivians arrested in connection with the suspected clandestine laboratory were19 year old Yerko Artunduaga Dorado, Ruben Ticona Jorge, 21 years old; and Hugo Chavez Moreno, 39 years old.
The fourth suspect is a 23-year-old Nigerian, Uba Ubachukwu Collins. However, Solomon Azuka Uzoka and Basil Ikechukwu Uzoka are wanted for questioning by the anti-drug Agency.
 “It is important to stress that such buildings are not safe for habitation. A house used for the illicit production of methamphetamine is simply a death trap. Tenants moving into new buildings are hereby advised to carry out discreet investigations on the previous occupants”. He also stated that the ugly development has led to the recruitment of youths in smuggling the drugs across the borders.
 “Besides the environmental pollution, gullible and unemployed youths are being used to smuggle these drugs to countries with high demand. Several methamphetamine traffickers have been caught at the airports and land borders”. While condemning the existence of clandestine laboratories in the country, the Agency urged members of the public to watch out for various clues to identify a clandestine laboratory.
The first Clandestine Laboratory in the country was discovered in 2011. The accused persons have been charged to court and the case is still on-going.
It’s no longer news that drug barons have institutionalized themselves in Nigeria and it is happening when there are no political will to confront this ugly trend.
 The present National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, investigation has shown that NDLEA doesn’t have what it takes to fight the scourge more so when the agency is broke financially. The institutional mechanism to handle the consequences of the drug cartel in Nigeria is lacking. Until the federal government rekindle her effort in fighting drug war what is happening in Latin America will be a child’s play.