October 3, (THEWILL) – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a drug house where about 13,451,466 pills of Tramadol 225mg, worth N8.86billion, were recovered.
The drugs were recovered in the mansions of a suspected billionaire drug baron named, Ugochukwu Nsofor Chukwukadibia, in the highbrow residential estate, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki, Lagos.
Ugochukwu, who was subsequently arrested by the operatives, is the Chairman of Autonation Motors Ltd.
The NDLEA, in a statement issued by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said Ugochukwu was arrested on Friday, 30th July along with a chemist, Sunday Ukah, who cooked the illicit drug for him.
The incident came barely two months after the NDLEA uncovered a methamphetamine clandestine laboratory in the residence of another drug kingpin in the estate, Chris Emeka Nzewi.
The statement read: “Following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Friday 30th September stormed the Plot A45 Road 2 home of the 52-year-old billionaire drug kingpin.
“A search of the expansive mansion led to the discovery of 443 cartons of Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg, which contains 13, 451, 466 pills of the drug while some cartons were already burnt in a fire incident in the house same day.
“Before his arrest, Ugochukwu who hails from Ihiala local government area of Anambra state has been on the Agency’s watch list as one of those behind the tramadol drug cartel in Nigeria.
“Preliminary investigation shows that he has about six mansions within the VGC, one of which he uses to warehouse the tramadol consignment, while he lives in the one at Plot Z-130 Road 67 and another as his office.
“Five exotic vehicles have also been located in two of his mansions, out of which two SUVs including a bullet jeep have been successfully removed to the Agency’s facility.
“Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men involved in the operation for their diligence while also appreciating Nigerians for supporting the agency in its arduous task of ridding the country of the menace of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
“He reassured Nigerians and other stakeholders wherever they are located across the country and beyond of the agency’s preparedness to work with them on this onerous task of saving our people from the drug scourge.
“This partnership is a further warning to the drug barons and cartels that there is no hiding place for them any more, because we remain on their trail and we will always get them.”
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