NDLEA arraigns five Nigerians, four Mexicans for operating illegal drug lab

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned four Mexicans and five Nigerians for allegedly operating a laboratory for the illicit production of methamphetamine.

Mitchell Ofoyeju, head of public affairs, who disclosed this in an online statement yesterday, said the accused persons on Monday April 25, 2016 appeared before the Federal High Court in Asaba, on a five-count charge of conspiracy to form and operate a Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) to process and export methamphetamine.

They were also accused of illegal extraction of ephedrine, preparation of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of 1.5kg of methamphetamine; a drug similar to cocaine, heroin, LSD, is contrary to NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The accused could not take their plea because the four Mexicans claim not to understand English language and the defence counsel, Benson Ndakara objected to the use of an interpreter produced by the NDLEA on the grounds of bias.

Lambert Nor, NDLEA counsel, told the court that the objection was a ploy to delay the trial and prayed the court to give the defence one week to produce any interpreter of their choice.

In response, Ndakara said they cannot produce an interpreter but would accept another interpreter apart from the one in question.

Justice Faji then remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case to May 13, 2016 for NDLEA to produce another interpreter.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the NDLEA, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah ordered the directorate of prosecution to diligently pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

BusinessDay recalled that the NDLEA in February discovered a super laboratory for the illicit production of methamphetamine located at Asaba, Delta State.

According to the anti-narcotic agency, this super methamphetamine laboratory is similar to the ones found in Mexico is the first to be discovered in the country.

NDLEA stated that the laboratory has a capacity of producing between 3,000kg to 4,000kg of methamphetamine per production cycle and that a significant feature of this laboratory is that the production process is more technical and sophisticated because it uses the synthesis method of methamphetamine production.

All the principal actors linked to this illicit act were apprehended in a simultaneous raid on members of the drug syndicate in Lagos, Obosi in Anambra state and at the laboratory in Asaba, Delta state.