TheCable

Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has revealed details about the discovery of a laboratory used for the production of methamphetamine in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos.

TheCable had reported that a leaked memo revealed that the NDLEA discovered a meth laboratory domiciled in an apartment at K-5A/2, Road 14, VGC.

The memo said the NDLEA arrested one Emeka Nzewi, a tenant who had been wanted by NDLEA since 2017.

The memo was signed by Yusuff Morufat, general manager of Victoria Garden City Property Owners and Residents Association (VGCPORA).

Marwa, in a press briefing on Tuesday, said the owner of the meth laboratory identified as “Chris Emeka Nzewi” was producing the “toxic drug” in a house where he lives with his family.

The NDLEA chairman said a three-month-old baby was also living in the house, adding that public health is of no concern to the owner of the laboratory.

Marwa also announced the arrest of one Paul Ozoemenam, who allegedly owns a meth laboratory located in Nise community, Awka south LGA, Anambra state.

“The first one, located in Victoria Garden City (VGC) estate of Lekki, Lagos, is owned by a baron, Chris Emeka Nzewi, while the second, in Nise Community of Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State was owned by Paul Ozoemenam,” the NDLEA chairman said.

“The owners of these two illicit meth laboratories were successfully arrested alongside Sunday Ukah from Aba, Abia State, the cook or chemist that produced the drugs for them.

“The laboratory in Lagos was set up inside the boys’ quarter building of a four-bedroom duplex. From there, we recovered a total of 258.74 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and various precursor chemicals used for the production of the toxic drug.

“The complete paraphernalia of laboratory equipment such as gas cylinders, giant gas burners, industrial face masks, industrial gloves, tubes and flat-bottomed conical flasks, among others were also found.”

“The owner of the laboratory in VGC, for instance, was producing this highly unstable and toxic drug in a house where he lived with his family.

“This speaks volumes about his insensitivity to the consequences of exposing his family, which includes a three-month old baby, to the danger of hazardous chemicals. If that is the case, that is an indication that public health was of no concern to him.

“In this particular case, aside from the laboratory being close to the kitchen of the main house, the waste from the laboratory was channelled into the septic tank and soakaway in the compound, with a high risk of contamination of the water table of the entire neighbourhood.

“On average, the lab produced 50 kilos of methamphetamine every week with plans underway to increase the capacity of production to at least 100kg per week.

“Where do these drugs end? From our preliminary interrogation, we now know the drugs from this lab were both for export and local consumption.

“We also know there is a supply chain of distributors and buyers for export and the domestic market.

“When you consider the fact that the price of this dangerous drug was going for as high as US500,000 per kilo in the international market in recent time, you will understand why Nzewi cared less to put the lives of his own family at risk by producing this in the same house where they live.

“Hence, taking these two labs out of operation is a major feat in our continuing effort to curb the meth problem.”