The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Enugu State Command, has arrested three drug suspects and seize 100 kiloogrammes of drugs suspected to be Ephedrine.
The command also discovered a clandestine laboratory located at Trans Ekulu in Enugu metropolisis.
Parading the suspects before journalists in Enugu on Wednesday, NDLEA state commander, Adeyemi Adeofe, said that two male suspects were arrested with 100 kilograms of Ephedrine while a male suspect was arrested at Clandestine Laboratory.
He said, “Based on credible intelligence, the officers and men of NDLEA Enugu State command on Saturday, March 16, 2019, arrested two male suspects with 100 kiloogrammes of Ephedrine, which is a major precursor in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
“A follow up operation on Sunday, March 17, 209 led to the arrest of another male suspect at Zion Avenue, Phase 2, Trans Ekulu in Enugu where a clandestine laboratory was discovered,” he addd.
Metamphetamine is a stimulant drug usually used as a white, bitter-tasting powder or a pill. Crystal methamphetamine is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks. It is chemically similar to amphetamine [a drug used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder]. People can take methamphetamine by inhaling/smoking swallowing (pill), snorting, injecting the powder that has been dissolved in water/alcohol.
He said metamphetamine is a very dangerous illegal drug.
According to him, due to the toxic nature of the chemical, if it enters the ground, it will pollute other neighbours well.
Adeofe said the clandestine laboratory has been dismantled as a result of hazardous nature of the chemicals involved, noting, “the precursor chemicals and parapheernalia and other equipment for cooking/production that were discovered are currently in the agency’s possession. Investigation is ongoing to unravel the other members of the syndicate.
He therefore stressed the need to decontaminate the area.
“This has a very serious health implication because time will come when the effects of these chemicals will result to deadly health challenges like cancer, birth deformity’ kidney problems etc,,” he said.
He thereby called on the government to come to the rescue of the residents within the neigbourhood. “We also appeal to the general public to come up with useful information whenever they notice or perceive strange activities or insulation smells within their environment”.
One of the suspects, Eze Paul, who said one Christian from South Africa contracted him to deliver the chemical to a business partner in Enugu, denied having knowledge of the content of the consignment.
He said, “Christain called me from South Africa and asked me to bring the products from Lagos to Enugu but he told me it was pharmaceutical products but unfortunately I was arrested at the park while delivering the products”.
Also. Christopher Eze, a resident of Phase 2, in Trans Ekulu, where the Clandestine laboratory was discovered denied having knowledge of the existence of such laboratory, saying the house belongs to Christain, his cousin, who traveled to South Africa in January this year.
How he was arrested, Eze said, “I was in the house when Ikechukwu (one of the arrested suspects) called me to open the door because he wanted to deliver a consignment but immediately I opened the door, I was arrested by officers of NDLEA.”
