MD arrested for operating drug trafficking firm

A suspected drug kingpin who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Best Fellows Nigeria Limited has been revealed one of the ‘big fishes’ arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) in the year 2014.

The suspect, Charles Okos Chijioke, 53, was arrested in connection with the clandestine laboratory he was operating. Chijioke was alleged to be producing methamphetamine at Lateef Adegboyega Street, Ago Palace Way, Lagos.

Items recovered from the laboratory includes; 7.6kg of methamphetamine, nine drums of Toluene, Toyota 4 Runner Jeep, Toyota Hiace Bus and a Pressure Pot.

Chijioke said that he was introduced to methamphetamine production by a friend.

His words: “I only attended Primary and Secondary School before I went into trading. A friend introduced me to the business of chemical importation from China and Europe in 2012. A year later, I learnt how to produce methamphetamine because there is high profit in it. I began to produce methamphetamine in my house in 2013. My first production was bad because of inexperience. Gradually, I was able to perfect the process. That was how I got involved in the drug business.”

NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Mitchel Ofoyeju, said that the NDLEA, Lagos State Command won 123 convictions at the Federal High Court Lagos in 2014.

Ofoyeju said this, while looking at NDLEA Lagos Command scored card for 2014.

The convicts include 117 males and 9 females, among them a pregnant woman. They were sentenced to between one day and 15 years for various drug offences.

Ofoyeju said: “Justice Musa Kurya sentenced a pregnant woman, Kudirat Bello to one day imprisonment for possessing 33.3kg of cannabis. One Obinna Okeke, 38 was sentenced to 15 years with hard labour by Justice M.D. Idris for possession of 3kg of cannabis. 118 cases were pending as at December 31, 2014. The command also detected a clandestine laboratory in the State.”

Ofoyeju said that one Lanre Salami, who was arrested at Oshodi, lied to the court that he was 15 years old. The court later discovered that he was actually 17 years old. He was sentenced to 10 years for unlawful dealing in 400 grammes of cannabis.

Salisu Usman, 42, was apprehended at Iddo Motor Park on his way to Zamfara, his home state with 47kg of diazepam. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour.

NDLEA Lagos State commander, Mr. Aliyu Sule said that over two metric tons of illicit drugs were intercepted and an illegal factory used for the production of methamphetamine was also detected and shut down in the State in 2014.

Sule added: “The Lagos State command seized a total of 2,056.949kg and apprehended 434 suspected drug traffickers. Those arrested include 413 males and 21 females. Drug exhibits seized are cannabis 1,989.716kg, cocaine 188.4 grammes, heroin 1.645kg, methamphetamine 7.6kg and psychotropic substances 57.8kg. Apart from those prosecuted, others found to be addicted were counseled. In addition, a clandestine laboratory used for the manufacture of methamphetamine was discovered and shut down in 2014.”