How drug baron linked to Kyari imported N22 billion worth of Tramadol in one month

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has given more insight into how arrested drug baron, Afam Ukatu, imported drugs into Nigeria.

The agency, in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday, said Mr Ukatu, who has links to the suspended police commissioner, Abba Kyari, imported containers of tramadol worth N22 billion in one month.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the agency arrested the billionaire drug baron, allegedly behind the N3 billion Tramadol deal involving Mr Kyari.

He was arrested on his way to Abuja at the Murtala Muhammed Airport after many months of surveillance and evading arrest.

The arrest of Mr Ukatu comes few months after the NDLEA took custody of the embattled deputy police commissioner who was earlier declared wanted by the agency.

The agency had declared Mr Kyari wanted for aiding and abetting drug pushing and running his transnational drug cartel.

A few months earlier, the former police intelligence unit commander was indicted in an internet fraud case by a U.S. court.

In the latest revelation on Mr Ukatu, the NDLEA said he had been a major importer of high dosages of tramadol and other substances.

The agency also said he has a pharmaceutical company which he uses to cover up his dirty acts.

“Investigations reveal he 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.

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“Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria,” the statement said.

Read the full statement:

NDLEA uncovers N22Billion worth of Tramadol imported by Ukatu

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has said that ongoing investigation of a billionaire drug baron, Chief Afam Mallinson Ukatu, has led to the discovery of how the suspect imported into Nigeria in a single month, October 2019, two containers containing 1,284 cartons of Tramadol with market value of over N22billion.

The Agency stated this in a statement on Tuesday 3rd May 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 reveal hes 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 N3billion Tramadol saga between Ukatu and the Abba Kyaris IRT team, its operatives have unearthed more evidences establishing how Ukatu has 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-conatiner loads of five different brands of Tramadol in October 2019 through the Apapa ports in Lagos. All the evidences so far gathered show that the imported Tramadol brands were far above the threshold permitted to be imported into Nigeria.

No doubt the suspect will soon have his day in court

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja