NDLEA dismantles methamphetamine manufacturing lab in Anambra

The Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has dismantled a methamphetamine manufacturing laboratory in Awo-Oraifite village in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The Agency, in a sting operation carried out on the 20/9/20 bursted into an uncompleted two-storey building used for the manufacturing of the drug in Awo-Oraifite village.

During the operation, NDLEA destroyed the laboratory used for drug manufacturing and confiscated 295 grammes methamphetamine worth five million Naira per packed.

The state Commander of NDLEA, Mr Momodu Sule who spoke with newsmen in his office on Wednesday, said they carried out the operation after discreet information, which they processed before the raid.

According to the commander, the principal suspect one Mr Nonso Chukwuyelum, age 35 year, escaped arrested when the operative stormed the drug laboratory in his country home, Awo village.

“We got intelligent information about the existence of the drug laboratory. We set up clandestine investigation team and found out the true existence of the lab and swung into action. We seized the equipment used for the production and some of the drugs” he said.

He disclosed further that the NDLEA lab test confirmed the drug as methamphetamine and would soon do the second test, which will be carried in his presence for the suspect.

According to him,after the second test he would charge to court for the law to take its course.

On how, they tend to apprehend the suspect, since he had ran away, he said that with present technology, very soon they will track as he can not run for long.

He called on the people of the state to cooperate with NDLEA to raid the state off of such a hard drug.

Momudu also said the drug was capable of rendering people around the environment manufacturing lab useless.

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“Anywhere such a drug manufacturing company is located, the odour emitting will be felt around and it causes health challenges to the residents. Please, report any of such an unpleasant activity to us and we will investigate and take action” he said.

He said that drug has started affecting the parents of the suspect, as they are now sufferings from health challenges.

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune, the suspect father, Mr Isiah Chukwuyelum, said he does not know that such dangerous drugs were being manufactured in his compound.

His son, whom he claimed lives in Lagos comes home sometime and people come around, and he never cared about what they were doing because he was busy running his soap making business.

The father also admitted he and his wife are sufferings from health issues over the last few years.

According to him, the health challenges do not allow him to be going around the building to find out the activities in the premises.

He also stated that since the operative invaded the place and carted away with some equipment, he has not heard from the son, whose phones has been switched off since the day of the incident.

The NDLEA spokesperson, in the state, Mr Charles Odigie, who led some selected journalists to the scene of the lab, said they normally claim they are manufacturing soap, which they used as cover to carry out their illegal operation.

He said when the operative raid the place they recovered 295 grammes of methamphetamine, two gas cylinders, two bags of caustic soda, five gallons of 25 litres of liquid, chemicals and another two gallons of 50 litres of other chemical substances.

Other items recovered include sealing machine, heating mental machines and motor siren.

It was believed that the suspect used the siren to distribute the drugs to his prospective buyers, he concluded.