"High priest," Nnodu Kendrick and several others, including theology student Udezuka Udoka and freight agent Oyoyo Mary Obasi, were arrested at the church on Saturday 11 February 2023.  This was two days after officials at Murtala Muhammed International Airport discovered 14,9 kgs of 'skunk' and 283 parcels of methamphetamine concealed in four 25-litre kegs of palm oil for export to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirites.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Femi Babafemi, said the freight agent had been sworn to secrecy over a sacrificial chicken but confessed after her arrest: "In her statement, Mary indicted the General Overseer of her new-found church, Nnodu and his son, Chisom Obi, who is now at large, as the persons that gave her the consignments for export after being compelled to take an oath of secrecy as well as a sacrifice of chicken in the church while High Priest Nnodu prayed for her for the success of the transaction."

One of the suspects told the anti-narcotic agency she was threatened and compelled to take the illicit drugs "after they knew she had known their secrets, adding that High Priest Nnodu was always referring to the illicit drugs as Ice and Bible, (Street names for Methamphetamine and Cannabis) in their telephone text message chats."

The other suspect, the theology student, was allegedly introduced to Ms Obasi to tutor her because she was new in the illicit business.

Mr Udezuka said he was paid two million naira for his role and had to play it because he needed the money for his education.

Another attempt to send a consignment of skunk and tramadol 225mg to the UAE by a Dubai returnee, Nnamani Monday Innocent, was also halted by the agency.

"The suspect was arrested at the Trade Fair complex in the Ojo area of Lagos, where he had gone in the company of his friend Nwanana Ikechukwu with the cargo to a freight company to process the consignment for export on Tuesday," the NDLEA said.

Nigeria is the world’s third largest consumer of cannabis, despite the fact the the drug is illegal and is sold at almost every street corner and bus stops by a subset of locals. Cannabiz Africa sources say there are 5 prominent strains on the street three of which are more popular amongst others, they are:

• Igbo or hemp a ruderalis indica mix,

• S.K (Skunk) an indica strain,

• Arizona (Nigerian landrace strain) a Sativa,

The other less popular strains due to the inability for most street consumers to afford them due to their slightly higher price are:

• Mali kush (A hybrid) and

• Colorado (Ketamine or K2 a synthetic substance)

It is estimated that Nigerian authorities seize an annual 200 tons of illicit cannabis every year.

READ: Pro-cannabis presidential election candidate says Nigeria kills more people than substances do.

Source: allafrica.com