Court rule on NDLEA application to destroy seized methamphetamine laboratory Friday

By Innocent Anaba

Justice Musa Kakaki of a Federal High Court in Lagos will on Friday, rule on an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, seeking leave to destroy a clandestine Nigerian-Mexican methamphetamine production laboratory uncovered in a remote forest in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The judge fixed the date after a special court sitting held inside the illicit laboratory at Mowe village, where operatives discovered facilities allegedly used to produce 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine valued at over N480 billion.

The NDLEA had, on July 10, arraigned three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians on an 11-count charge bordering on the alleged establishment and operation of the clandestine laboratory.

The defendants are Juan Carlos Torrero, Nemecio Felix and Jesus Valles, all Mexicans, alongside Anochili Nwankwo, Sunday Christian, Egwuonwu Victor, Igwe Remijus, Ifeanyichukwu Joshua, Omonughwa Orike and Emeka Nwobum.

According to the anti-narcotics agency, the defendants allegedly manufactured and possessed 2,419.48 kilograms of methamphetamine, a psychotropic substance classified alongside cocaine, heroin and LSD.

The prosecution further alleged that the accused managed and financed a drug trafficking network and transported precursor chemicals, including toluene, phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), phenylacetic acid, acetone and hydrochloric acid, from Lagos to the clandestine laboratory using vehicles, including a Toyota Tacoma, a Mercedes-Benz with registration number APP 942 YL, and a Toyota Highlander marked GWA 662 DJ.

The NDLEA also accused them of unlawfully possessing large quantities of precursor chemicals, including 358 kilograms of toluene, 1,834 kilograms of hydrochloric acid and 22.5 kilograms of acetone, allegedly intended for the production of methamphetamine.

All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At yesterday’s proceedings, the prosecution’s first witness, clandestine laboratory expert, Mr. Ajilema Anebi, testified and tendered exhibits relating to the equipment and chemicals recovered from the laboratory.

Anebi told the court that substances recovered from the facility, where the second to the eighth defendants were arrested, were used for the production and storage of large quantities of methamphetamine intended for export outside Nigeria.

He said the identification of the substances followed scientific analysis conducted by him and his team.
The witness also explained the role of alcohol and hydrochloric acid in the methamphetamine production process, including the production of benzene.

The inventory of chemicals and equipment recovered from the laboratory had earlier been admitted in evidence by the court.

During the proceedings, NDLEA prosecuting counsel, Adekunle Adebanjo, reminded the court of the agency’s pending application seeking leave to destroy the multi-million-dollar clandestine methamphetamine laboratory.

However, counsel to the defendants, led by Chief Benson Ndakara, opposed aspects of the prosecution’s evidence and raised objections to some of the exhibits tendered.

After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Kakaki adjourned until July 24, to rule on the NDLEA’s application.