The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it dismantled two clandestine laboratories where an illicit drug, crystal methamphetamine aka Mkpuru Mmiri were produced in Lagos and Anambra states.
The agency said it recovered 258.7kg of the dangerous drug from the lab.
A statement signed by spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said two suspected drug barons and a chemist were arrested during the raid carried out on July 30.
Babafemi said the raids followed the outbreak of crystal methamphetamine abuse in the last quarter of 2021, predominantly in the Southeast and the cry for help from many communities in the region because of the devastating effects the distribution and abuse of the dangerous stimulant were having on their youths and others.
Marwa said while efforts in the past seven months against the cartel behind the Methamphetamine scourge, have led to the arrest of four kingpins and a cook; “now, we have added two barons and another cook.
“The first one, located in Victoria Garden City (VGC) Estate of Lekki, Lagos, is owned by a baron, Chris Emeka Nzewi, while the second, in Nise Community of Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State was owned by Paul Ozoemenam. The owners of these two illicit meth laboratories were successfully arrested alongside Sunday Ukah from Aba, Abia State, the cook or chemist that produced the drugs for them.
“The laboratory in Lagos was set up inside the Boys Quarters building of a four-bedroom duplex. From there, we recovered a total of 258.74 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and various precursor chemicals used for the production of the toxic drug. The complete paraphernalia of laboratory equipment such as gas cylinders, giant gas burners, industrial face masks, industrial gloves, tubes and flat-bottomed conical flasks, among others were also found.
“This no doubt is a loud statement to those involved in the criminal illicit drug trade that its time for them to quit or risk losing it all; that is losing their freedom, investment and assets acquired through proceeds from the illegal business.”
He said he was addressing the public about the weekend busts to raise peoples awareness of the danger that meth production constitutes to public health and the modus operandi of the barons involved in the unwholesome activity.
Marwa said, the owner of the laboratory in VGC, for instance, was producing this highly unstable and toxic drug in a house where he lived with his family. This speaks volumes about his insensitivity to the consequences of exposing his family, which includes a three-month old baby, to the danger of hazardous chemicals. If that is the case, that is an indication that public health was of no concern to him.
“In this particular case, aside from the laboratory being close to the kitchen of the main house, the waste from the laboratory was channelled into the septic tank and soakaway in the compound, with a high risk of contamination of the water table of the entire neighbourhood.
“On average, the lab produced 50 kilos of methamphetamine every week with plans underway to increase the capacity of production to at least 100kg per week. “