NDLEA nab baron for producing hard drugs

It is the end of the road for notorious drug baron responsible for sponsoring couriers, especially females, to countries like China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and South Africa, as he has been nabbed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The suspect, Sylvester Chukwuwendu, 37, who is also said to be the biggest producer of methamphetamine, a particularly dangerous hard drug, in the country, was arrested after many months of survellance on his activities by the agency.

While addressing journalists on the capture of the big fish, Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said Chukwunwendu was arrested at Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, based on intelligence report received by the agency on April 23, 2014.

Giade said Chukwuwendu was said to be deeply involved in unlawful exportation of illicit drugs and running a methamphetamine production laboratory in his house at No. 2, St. James Close, Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos.

Chukwunwendu, also known as Blessed, owned a laboratory where the illegal drug was produced and is the leader of an international drug trafficking organisation which recruits and sponsors drug couriers to foreign countries.

Giade said that Chukwuwendu runs several business as a front for his criminal activities.

"Some of his companies include Blessed Benita Global Limited, Ideal Motorcycle Company Limited and God’s Special Enterprise Limited. Some of his couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy were usually paid an average of $5,000 per trip."

The suspect hired one Raphael, a professional methamphetamine cook, to work for him.

The said Raphael is paid N500,000 for his service and N700,000 for the purchase of precursor chemicals per production cycle. Items recovered from the suspect’s residence include 2.615kg of liquid methamphetamine found inside a yellow plastic jug, 250 grams of crystallised methamphetamine concealed in a white polythene bag and some laboratory equipment.

Also recovered are two Nigerian international passports, one Ghanaian passport all bearing Chukwunwendu’s photographs, with different names.

Chikwendu's cover was blown when a drug trafficking suspect identified as Azubuike, was arrested with 23kg of methamphetamine along Badagry Expressway, Lagos, en-route Cotonou.

In his confessional statement, Azubike, like few others, said he was sponsored by Chukwunwendu.