Operatives of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are interrogating a
South Africa-based cleric in connection with over
165kgs of narcotics drugs seized at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos, The illicit consignment were traced to John
Vincent Arinze, from Ara village, Nise in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The 52-year-old suspect was arrested in his hotel room in Lagos. A Mercedes Benz Jeep belonging to him was also impounded.
The suspect, who had lived in South Africa for
over a decade accepted ownership of the illicit
shipment and said 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.
The drugs, 92kgs of methamphetamine and
73kgs of ephedrine with the estimated street
value of N.4 billion were found inside two
containers of foodstuff meant for export to South
Africa, following meticulous undercover operation
by operatives of NDLEA.
The narcotics drugs were hidden inside packs of
melon concealed in foodstuff and cosmetics
such as gari, noodles, Knorr and Maggi food
seasoning, yam powder, malt drinks, pepper,
milk, herbal hair cream and Golden Morn
cereals, Damatol hair cream, bags of melon,
kegs of palm oil, beans, biscuits, sardine and
cartons of Orijin Bitters. During the 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.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA,
Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd), said
the seizure will have a positive influence in
Nigeria's fight against narcotics drug.
"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 the
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" said the NDLEA boss
Col. Abdallah reiterated the agency's
commitment to the fight against drug trafficking
and prosecution of 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," he
added
The suspect will be charged to court soon.
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