The Spokesman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Jarikre Ofoyeju, has revealed to reporters that a 52-year old man, John
Vincent Arinze, who claims to a South Africa based evangelist, is been
quizzed by the agency over N1.4 billion worth of narcotics found in his
food stuffs at Apapa port yesterday in Lagos.
It was gathered that 92kgs of methamphetamine and 73kgs of
ephedrine were detected inside two containers of foodstuff meant for
export to South Africa by the agency’s sniffer drugs, as the man was
later arrested in a hotel room in Lagos after the illegal goods were
traced to him.
The NDLEA spokesman stated that the drugs were hidden inside packs
of melon concealed in foodstuff and cosmetics such as Gari (cassava
flakes), noodles, Knorr and Maggi food seasoning, yam powder, Malt
drinks, pepper, milk, herbal hair cream and Golden Morn cereals. Other
items in the container are Damatol hair Cream, bags of Melon, Kegs of
palm oil, beans, biscuits, sardine and Cartons of orijin bitters.
“The arrest and seizure is a product on intense undercover
operation by the NDLEA. The estimated street value of the drugs is 1.4
billion.
“During examination of the containers marked MSKU 388274-1 and
MSKU 424717-0; anti-narcotic officials detected 20kg of Methamphetamine
and 50kg of Ephedrine inside the first container and 72Kg of
Methamphetamine and 23Kg of Ephedrine in the second container. The total
weight of the drugs is 165kgs”, he explained.
Ofoyeju also quoted the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col.
Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.) as saying that the seizure has
significant influence on the campaign against narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances.
“This is a product of careful planning and meticulous tracking
of narcotic drugs movement. The consignments were closely monitored by
our undercover agents and intercepted at Apapa Seaport, Lagos following
the detection of narcotics by NDLEA sniffer dogs during screening
operation. This will definitely have a positive influence on Nigeria’s
drug control efforts”.
The NDLEA boss added that the Agency will remain meticulous in detecting drugs and prosecuting offenders. “I
am very happy with the success recorded in this operation. The Agency
will remain painstaking and professional in the fight against illicit
drug production, trafficking and abuse. We hope to unmask the drug
syndicate behind this shipment and make more arrests soon,” Abdallah promised.
In his statement, the suspect who hails from Ara village, Nise in
Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, and had lived in
South Africa for over a decade, accepted ownership of the illicit
shipment, and said that he made a big mistake by taking over the
business of his late wife.
“I am an evangelist living in Durban South Africa. My late wife
was into drug trafficking before she died few years ago. I made a
mistake venturing into her business. It is all my fault,” he stated.
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