Castillo Barraza Cristobal, Cervantos Madrid Jose Bruno, Chibi Aruh
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned four
Mexicans and five Nigerians for allegedly operating a super laboratory
for the illicit production of methamphetamine located at Asaba, Delta
State.
Those arrested include four (5) 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 NDLEA boss gave the names of the suspects are; Anthony
Chukwuemeka Umolu a.k.a. Onwa Obosi, Chief Chibi Aruh, Izuchukwu Anieto,
Cervantes Madrid Jose Bruno, Rivas Ruiz Pasiano, Castillo Barraza
Cristobal, Partida Gonzalez Pedro, William Ejike Agusi and Augustine
Kosisochukwu Umolu.
Ejike Agusi William, Partida Gonzalez Pedro, Rivas Ruiz Pastiano
They were also accused of illegal extraction of ephedrine,
preparation of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of 1.5kg of
methamphetamine; a drug similar to cocaine, heroin, LSD contrary to
NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapher
Abdallah (rtd), described the operation as technical undercover
assignment leading to the dismantling of a drug trafficking
organization.
"In a technical undercover operation, four Mexicans were
arrested in active production exercise inside the super laboratory. 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. Our investigation revealed that a successful test production was
done at the laboratory in February 2016."
Umolu Chukwuemeka, Umolu Kosisochukwu
The laboratory was raided while the second production cycle was
ongoing. Items recovered at the laboratory include 1.5kg of finished
methamphetamine and 750 litres of liquid methamphetamine. Other items
found in the laboratory include industrial pressure pots, gas cylinders,
gas burners, facial masks and numerous chemicals. Also recovered in
this operation are Toyota Tundra, Mercedes Benz Jeep ML and a Toyota
Corolla car.
The threat posed by this laboratory is disturbing because mass
production will make the drug easily available thereby increasing the
rate of 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 laboratories pose a serious threat to humanity
because of the toxic nature of chemicals used. 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.
Click here to read the full press statement on NDLEA's website.
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