News
How drug baron linked to Kyari’s team imported tramadol worth N22bn – NDLEA
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered how a suspected drug baron, Afam Mallinson Ukatu, imported 1,284 cartons of Tramadol worth N22 billion into the country.
The NDLEA arrested the suspect at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in connection with the N3billion tramadol deal involving the Police Intelligence Response led by Abba Kyari on April 13.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the statement was to counter insinuations in some quarters that the agency had no evidence to nail the suspect.
READ ALSO: NDLEA seizes 47 cartons of tramadol, 2,919 codeine bottles in Kaduna
Babafemi said: “Investigations revealed that he (Ukatu) has been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg, all of which are illicit.
“He owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria.
“In the course of investigating the N3billion Tramadol saga between the suspect and Abba Kyari’s IRT team, the operatives were able to unearth more evidence.
“He has been importing large quantities of Tramadol far above the approved threshold allowed into Nigeria.
“No doubt the suspect will soon have his day in court.”
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...