Police Arrest Man for Unlawful Distribution of Emzolyn with Codeine

By Rebecca Ejifoma

The Lagos State Police Command has said that it has arrested Madubuike Chukwunonye for unlawfully distributing controlled substance, Emzolyn with Codeine, in breach of the drugs laws of Nigeria.

The suspect, who was said to have been on the run since May this year, was apprehended after operatives of the Command, attached to Area ‘D’ Headquarters, at Idi Iroko border town of Ogun State identified him while trying to escape into Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Speaking to newsmen at the command headquarters Wednesday while parading the suspect, the state Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal said that on May 1 this year, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited reported a case of unlawful distribution of controlled substances in breach of the drugs laws of Nigeria by Chukwunonye.

“It was alleged that while in the employment of Emzor, the subject had access to limited quantities of Emzolyn with Codeine for the purpose of distribution to licensed retail pharmacies under his assigned territory,” Edgal added.

But due to greed, the police commissioner said that Chukwunonye intentionally supplied these controlled drugs to persons who are not supposed to have access to them in the first place contrary to the dictates of the drug laws of Nigeria.

The state police boss continued: “The suspect, who has been on the run since May, was eventually arrested by the operatives of the command attached to Area ‘D’ Headquarters at Idi Iroko border town of Ogun State while trying to escape into Cotonou, Benin Republic.”

Edgal recalled that BBC did a broadcast on the activities of the suspect, who was caught on camera selling restricted drugs to a BBC undercover investigator, Adejuwon Soyinka, also known as Mr. Johnson.

“In his statement, Chukwunonye averred that he was only trying to meet his sales target and one Pascal introduced the BBC man to him as a genuine businessman without verifying his identity as a pharmacist. He regretted selling controlled substances to unauthorised persons,” the police commissioner said.