21st February, 2012
Three Bolivians and a Nigerian have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency , NDLEA, in connection with a clandestine laboratory for the illicit production of Methamphetamine at satellite Town, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, the agency said in a statement today.
The agency warned that it will not treat the development with kid gloves as it threatens public health and safety.
Speaking on the arrest, Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA Chairman, disclosed that the laboratory was detected by operatives attached to the Lagos State Command.
Items recovered at the production site include 41.150kg of ephedrine, 4.8kg of methamphetamine, other chemicals and sundry gadgets used in the laboratory.
Three vehicles, a Honda Accord saloon car, a Honda CRV SUV and a Toyota 4-Runner SUV were also impounded.
Arrested in connection with the laboratory include three Bolivians Yerko Artunduaga Dorado, 19, Ruben Ticona Jorge, 21, and Hugo Chavez Moreno, 39.
The fourth suspect is a 23-year-old Nigerian, Uba Ubachukwu Collins.
Two other suspects, Solomon Azuka Uzoka and Basil Ikechukwu Uzoka are wanted for questioning by the anti-drug agency.
Giade stressed that clandestine laboratories constitute a serious threat to societal peace and security.
He said: “It is important to stress that such buildings are not safe for habitation. A house used for the illicit production of methamphetamine is simply a death trap. Tenants moving into new buildings are hereby advised to carry out discreet investigations on the previous occupants.
“Besides the environmental pollution, gullible and unemployed youths are being used to smuggle these drugs to countries with high demand.”
—Simon Ateba