An ongoing investigation of a suspected billionaire drug baron, Chief Afam Mallinson Ukatu, has led to the discovery of how the suspect imported cartons of Tramadol with a market value of over N22 billion, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Chief Ukatu, who is the Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies, was arrested on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, on board a flight to Abuja at the MM2 terminal of Lagos Airport, Ikeja.

He is behind the N3 billion Tramadol deal involving the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team (IRT), NDLEA said.

The Agency also stated that he had been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg, and 250mg.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the Agency noted that to counter insinuations by some hirelings that NDLEA has no evidence to pin a crime on Ukatu, it has also uncovered how the suspect imported two containers containing 1,284 cartons of Tramadol into October 2019.

“The Agency said in the course of investigating the N3billion Tramadol saga between Ukatu and the Abba Kyari’s IRT team, its operatives have unearthed more evidence 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-container loads of five different brands of Tramadol in October 2019 through the Apapa ports in Lagos. All the evidence so far gathered has shown 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.”

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