Lagos - The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said on Monday that it had apprehended a pastor (name withheld) in Lagos attempting to export 174 kg of narcotics to South Africa.
In a statement by the Head, Public Affairs Unit, Ofoyeju Mitchell, the NDLEA said the suspect was arrested following the interception of the drug at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) during pre-shipment examination.
It said that preliminary investigation indicated that the 60-year-old accused was suspected to be a member of a drug syndicate operating in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.
It also stated that the pastor was a member of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church at Agodo-Egbe, Ikotun, Lagos.
"He had international passports bearing his photographs with the names Michael Raji and Kadigun Fatah Ola respectively.
"It was equally discovered that the church premises where he was ministering, also served as a warehouse for narcotics.
"The seized drugs, concealed inside large bags of foodstuff, were found to contain 91kg of Methamphetamine and 83kg of Ephedrine with an estimated street value of N609 million.’’
The statement also quoted Hamza Umar, the Commander, NDLEA, Lagos Airport, as saying that a Mercedes Benz Jeep was also impounded during the operation.
- NAN
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