Abba Kyari: NDLEA uncovers N22 billion worth of Tramadol allegedly imported by businessman, Afam Ukatu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said that the ongoing investigation of billionaire, Chief Afam Mallinson Ukatu, has led to the discovery of how the suspect allegedly imported into Nigeria in a single month, October 2019, two containers containing 1,284 cartons of Tramadol with market value of over N22 billion.
Recall that the anti-narcotic agency had on Wednesday, April 12, arrested the billionaire behind the N3 billion Tramadol deal involving the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team, IRT.
Spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, issued a statement today May 3, to counter insinuations by some hirelings that NDLEA has no evidence to pin a crime on Ukatu, who is the Chairman/CEO of Mallinson Group of companies.
“After months of surveillance, Ukatu was eventually arrested on board a flight to Abuja at the MM2 terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja on Wednesday 13th April.
Investigations revealed he’s 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.
Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria.
The Agency said in the course of investigating the N3 billion Tramadol saga between Ukatu and the Abba Kyaris IRT team, its operatives have unearthed more evidence establishing how Ukatu had been importing large quantities of Tramadol far above the approved threshold allowed into the country.
In one instance, Ukatu through his Mallinson Group of companies imported into the country two-container loads of five different brands of Tramadol in October 2019 through the Apapa ports in Lagos. All the evidence so far gathered show that the imported Tramadol brands were far above the threshold permitted to be imported into Nigeria.”
The statement added that the suspect will soon have his day in court.
