NDLEA arrests man for sponsoring drug couriers overseas

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), today said it has arrested a suspected drug baron who specializes in sponsoring drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey, Italy and other foreign countries.

Addressing journalists at the Agency’s office in Ikoyi, Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the suspect Sylvester Chukwunwendu 37 was also a producer of methamphetamine in Anambra State.

Giade said that Chukwunwendu was arrested in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State based on intelligent report received by the Agency on April 23, 2014.

The suspect was said to be deeply involved in unlawful exportation of illicit drugs and running a methamphetamine production laboratories in his house at No. 2, St, James Close Ajao Estate Isolo Lagos.

Chukwunwendu, also known as Blessed was alleged to be the owner the laboratories and leader of an International Drug Trafficking Organisation that recruits and sponsors drug couriers to foreign countries.

Giade said that sufficient evidences had been gathered to ease the prosecution of the suspect.

His words: “The Special Enforcement Team (SET) of the Agency has concluded a model investigation of an International Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), after 13 months intense surveillance on the suspect before he was finally arrested.”

Giade said the suspect hides under the cover of different business in running his drug business with international affiliation. Some of his companies include Blessed Benita Global Limited, Ideal Motorcycle Company Limited and God’s Special Enterprise Limited.

 “Some of his couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy were usually paid an average of $5,000 dollars per trip,” noted Giade.

It was further gathered that the suspect hired one Raphael who is a professional methamphetamine cook to work for him. The Raphael is paid N500, 000 for his service and N700, 000 for the purchase of precursor chemicals per production cycle.

Items recovered from the suspect residents includes 2.615kg of liquid methamphetamine found inside a yellow plastic jug , 250grammes of crystallized methamphetamine concealed in a white  polythene bag, and some laboratory equipment. Also recovered are two Nigeria International passports, one Ghana passport all bearing Chukwunwendu’s photographs with different names. There are also one measuring scale, six heating filters, six giant conical flasks, industrial tubes and cups of sodium hydroxide.

Giade revealed that in another development,   23kg of methamphetamine was intercepted along Badagry Expressway, Lagos, en-route Cotonou.

The suspect, identified as Azubike, is standing trial at the Federal High Court Lagos in respect of the seizure. Azubike in his confessional statement said he was sponsored by Sylvester.