The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has arrested a billionaire drug baron behind the N3billion Tramadol deal involving the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team, IRT.
The drug baron whose name was given as Chief Afam Mallinson Emmanuel Ukatu was arrested on Friday 13th April onboard a flight to Abuja the the MM2 terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja.
Spokesman for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi in a statement says, after months of surveillance and evading arrest, Ukatu who is Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies is 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 stated that, Mr. Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria in addition to operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.
Giving a background to the suspect, Mr. Babafemi says, Ukatu came under watch last year after five cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on 4th May 2021 when he sent them to sell to undercover police officers (unknown to Ukatu) from the then Kyari-led IRT of the Nigeria Police, Ikeja Lagos.
The price of a carton of Tramadol was negotiated at N17million each as against the then black market value that ranged between N18million and N20million a carton in Lagos.
