The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra State has arrested a 31-year-old man, Vincent Chidiebere, for allegedly peddling hard drug worth N1.78 billion.
Addressing reporters in Onitsha yesterday, the Commander, Mr. Sule Momodu, said the suspect was arrested in Awka, the state capital, on July 28 with methamphetamine weighing 25.2kg.
He said the arrest followed a tip-off that a shipment of the drug would pass through Anambra from Enugu to Lagos.
“Based on the information, we set up a team to search vehicles from a particular company.
“About 11am we intercepted a vehicle carrying the substance and nabbed the suspect.”
Momodu, who said the substance tested positive, described the drug as “one of the most potent illicit drugs in the world, which has a lot of destructive tendencies on the user.”
According to him, someone under the influence of methamphetamine can be influenced to make disastrous decisions and can make criminals test the nation’s security to its limit.
The commander said besides the security threat posed by the users, the drug posed a health hazard.
He said the chemicals used for the production were highly toxic and could cause permanent destruction to the eco-system.
“The waste from the drug is more toxic than the extracted substance.
“The people around where it is being produced are likely to be exposed to cancer and other incurable diseases, while children born in the area are likely to be deformed.”
Momodu, who expressed the readiness of the agency to fight illicit drug production and peddling, enjoined the public to volunteer information that could help stop the illicit business.
Although, the agency had discovered three methamphetamine laboratories at Nanka, Ozubulu and Obosi, the commander believed that more laboratories exist.
He told the public that Governor Willie Obiano pledged a reward of N500, 000 to anyone with information on where the substances were being produced.
“Most of the methamphetamine being produced are meant for Asian countries,” Momodu said, adding that a kilogramme of the drug was sold at about 150, 000 dollars.
He said the suspect will be arraigned when investigation is completed.
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