NDLEA Arrests Evangelist In Possession of 165kg Narcotics Drugs at Lagos Seaport (Photos)

Operatives of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are
interrogating a South Africa based
evangelist over 165kgs of narcotics
drugs seized at Apapa Seaport, Lagos.
The 92kgs of methamphetamine
and 73kgs of ephedrine were
detected inside two containers of
foodstuff meant for export to South
Africa. The arrest and seizure is a
product on intense undercover
operation by the NDLEA. The
estimated street value of the drugs
is 1.4 billion naira.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the
NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha
Abdallah (retd.) said that the
seizure has significant influence on
the campaign against narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances.
In his words, “this is a product of
careful planning and meticulous
tracking of narcotic drugs
movement.
The consignments were closely
monitored by our undercover
agents and intercepted at Apapa
Seaport, Lagos following the
detection of narcotics by NDLEA
sniffer dogs during screening
operation. This will definitely have
a positive influence on Nigeria’s
drug control efforts”.’
The NDLEA boss added that the
Agency will remain meticulous in
detecting drugs and prosecuting
offenders. “I am very happy with
the success recorded in this
operation. The Agency will remain
painstaking and professional in the
fight against illicit drug production,
trafficking and abuse. We hope to
unmask the drug syndicate behind
this shipment and make more
arrests soon,” Abdallah promised.
The drugs were hidden inside packs
of melon concealed in foodstuff
and cosmetics such as Gari (cassava
flakes), noodles, Knorr and Maggi
food seasoning, yam powder, Malt
drinks, pepper, Milk, Herbal Hair
Cream and Golden Morn cereals.
Other items in the container are
Damatol Hair Cream, bags of
Melon, Kegs of palm oil, Beans,
Biscuits, Sardine and Cartons of
Orijin bitters.
During examination of the
containers marked MSKU 388274-1
and MSKU 424717-0; anti-narcotic
officials detected 20kg of
Methamphetamine and 50kg of
Ephedrine inside the first container
and 72Kg of Methamphetamine and
23Kg of Ephedrine in the second
container. The total weight of the
drugs is 165kgs.
Officers successfully traced the
illicit consignment to a fifty-two
year old man who claimed to be an
evangelist by name John Vincent
Arinze who was arrested in his
hotel room in Lagos. A Mercedes
Benz Jeep belonging to him was
also impounded at the time of
arrest. The suspect hails from Ara
village, Nise in Awka South Local
Government Area of Anambra
State. John who had lived in South
Africa for over a decade accepted
ownership of the illicit shipment.
The suspect in his statement said
that he made a big mistake by
taking over the business of his late
wife. “I am an evangelist living in
Durban South Africa. My late wife
was into drug trafficking before
she died a few years ago. I made a
mistake venturing into her
business. It is all my fault,” he
stated.
He will soon be charged to court.