A Nigerian identified as Damian Obi was arrested by the Drugs Enforcement
Agency for the importation of a clandestine laboratory equipment to be
used for the manufacturing of illicit drugs.
“On October 26, 2015, while loading the goods from the containers on a truck after DEA has taken assignment at the Port, DEA officers recognized the three so-called water pumps or water filters to be clandestine laboratory equipment or machines for manufacturing illicit drugs,”
DEA Boss Anthony Souh said. Souh said that
the three machines can separate marijuana plant materials from its
resin. The DEA Boss added that the Nigerian national who imported the
clandestine laboratory equipment lives in Caldwell Bridge, Logan Town on
Bushrod Island.
The DEA head explained that the equipment for the production of illicit drugs was imported into Liberia through the Freeport of Monrovia in a 20 foot container- MRSU- 0105780 which also had assorted goods from the Republic of China. Souh said according to the Ministry of Commence import permit Declaration (IPD) and the Customs Single Administrative Document (Custom Import Entry), 24 different items which include 3 pieces of so-called water pump, etc. were manifested and declared.
He said that during customs routine examination of the entire consignment, the three machines that were declared as water pumps were not water pumps but some form of filter with all kinds of devices. He said the act carried out by the Nigerian constitutes false declaration, adding that it is an offense under Custom law in Liberia.
“For this, the company was made to pay a fine of 200,000.00 LD and an additional Customs duty in the amount of 3, 215.17 USD. This transaction took place before DEA took assignment in the Freeport of Monrovia,” Souh added. He continued: “Upon recognition of these machines, the DEA commander began to question the importer about the usage of the machines and the operational manual but the importer decided to beg and offered an initial amount of $500USD to keep everything secret until they reach to his business center on Caldwell Road where they will better negotiate.”
Souh said that given the serious nature of the case, the commander reported the case along with the amount of $500USD and seized one of the machines that was loaded on a pick-up because two of the machines were taken to his warehouse a day earlier.
Accused denies wrongdoing
The accused, Damin Obi, denies any wrongdoing as reported by DEA, adding that he is an honest businessman who is paying taxes. Suspect Obi insisted that the equipment imported is water pump rather than laboratory equipment for the production of illicit drugs. When questioned whether water is what he’s trading, Obi said that water is a new business he is about to get into.
Obi refuted claims that he took two of the equipment, adding that he collected one water pump but the customer document shows that he collected two of the ‘water pumps’. The DEA Boss said one of his commanders prayed the court for a Writ of Search and Seizure on the premises of the importer and his business center to retrieve the remaining two machines.
“But upon reaching the warehouse the importer had relocated the two machines. To date the importer has failed to give DEA investigators the operational brochure of the machines he falsely declared to DEA authority as water pump,” Director Souh explained. Souh said the DEA searched Obi’s business center through court authority and discovered a warehouse full of Rizzla, a king size wrapping paper for molding marijuana and other forms of drugs for smoking.
“Under the controlled drug and substance act of Liberia, unlicensed importation, and possession of manufacturing equipment is felony of the first degree provided in section 14.106,” Director Souh said. The arrest of the Nigerian by the DEA is one of four in three months of people allegedly involved in the importation of drugs in the country.
Following the arrest of two Nigerian men and a Liberian woman for trafficking a quantity of heroin valued at LD1.2 million (US$14,532) at DHL, the Drugs Enforcement Agency has arrested four persons with illicit drugs, valued at US$60,000 neatly concealed in packages of hair products in DHL parcel number 1011647755, but were intercepted by DEA agents in Monrovia, which shipment originated from Lilongwe, Malawi.
The two Nigerians arrested by the DEA were Uche Ude, 34, and Charles Akaolisa, 40 who both operate spare parts businesses in Monrovia. The woman, 23 year-old Comfort Weah, is the girlfriend of Ude. The drugs, according to DEA Director Souh, was brought into the country from Kampala, Uganda on DHL packages bearing tracking numbers 5505590814 and 06282015, and addressed to Comfort Weah of Monrovia. Comfort, a prime suspect, is helping DEA agents with ongoing investigation
The DEA head explained that the equipment for the production of illicit drugs was imported into Liberia through the Freeport of Monrovia in a 20 foot container- MRSU- 0105780 which also had assorted goods from the Republic of China. Souh said according to the Ministry of Commence import permit Declaration (IPD) and the Customs Single Administrative Document (Custom Import Entry), 24 different items which include 3 pieces of so-called water pump, etc. were manifested and declared.
He said that during customs routine examination of the entire consignment, the three machines that were declared as water pumps were not water pumps but some form of filter with all kinds of devices. He said the act carried out by the Nigerian constitutes false declaration, adding that it is an offense under Custom law in Liberia.
“For this, the company was made to pay a fine of 200,000.00 LD and an additional Customs duty in the amount of 3, 215.17 USD. This transaction took place before DEA took assignment in the Freeport of Monrovia,” Souh added. He continued: “Upon recognition of these machines, the DEA commander began to question the importer about the usage of the machines and the operational manual but the importer decided to beg and offered an initial amount of $500USD to keep everything secret until they reach to his business center on Caldwell Road where they will better negotiate.”
Souh said that given the serious nature of the case, the commander reported the case along with the amount of $500USD and seized one of the machines that was loaded on a pick-up because two of the machines were taken to his warehouse a day earlier.
Accused denies wrongdoing
The accused, Damin Obi, denies any wrongdoing as reported by DEA, adding that he is an honest businessman who is paying taxes. Suspect Obi insisted that the equipment imported is water pump rather than laboratory equipment for the production of illicit drugs. When questioned whether water is what he’s trading, Obi said that water is a new business he is about to get into.
Obi refuted claims that he took two of the equipment, adding that he collected one water pump but the customer document shows that he collected two of the ‘water pumps’. The DEA Boss said one of his commanders prayed the court for a Writ of Search and Seizure on the premises of the importer and his business center to retrieve the remaining two machines.
“But upon reaching the warehouse the importer had relocated the two machines. To date the importer has failed to give DEA investigators the operational brochure of the machines he falsely declared to DEA authority as water pump,” Director Souh explained. Souh said the DEA searched Obi’s business center through court authority and discovered a warehouse full of Rizzla, a king size wrapping paper for molding marijuana and other forms of drugs for smoking.
“Under the controlled drug and substance act of Liberia, unlicensed importation, and possession of manufacturing equipment is felony of the first degree provided in section 14.106,” Director Souh said. The arrest of the Nigerian by the DEA is one of four in three months of people allegedly involved in the importation of drugs in the country.
Following the arrest of two Nigerian men and a Liberian woman for trafficking a quantity of heroin valued at LD1.2 million (US$14,532) at DHL, the Drugs Enforcement Agency has arrested four persons with illicit drugs, valued at US$60,000 neatly concealed in packages of hair products in DHL parcel number 1011647755, but were intercepted by DEA agents in Monrovia, which shipment originated from Lilongwe, Malawi.
The two Nigerians arrested by the DEA were Uche Ude, 34, and Charles Akaolisa, 40 who both operate spare parts businesses in Monrovia. The woman, 23 year-old Comfort Weah, is the girlfriend of Ude. The drugs, according to DEA Director Souh, was brought into the country from Kampala, Uganda on DHL packages bearing tracking numbers 5505590814 and 06282015, and addressed to Comfort Weah of Monrovia. Comfort, a prime suspect, is helping DEA agents with ongoing investigation
Culled from Front Page Africa
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