Four Mexicans and five Nigerians were arraigned yesterday before Justice A. O. Faji of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, for allegedly operating a super laboratory for the production of methamphetamine.
The accused were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a five-count charge of conspiracy to form and operate a Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) to process and export methamphetamine.
They were also accused of illegal extraction of ephedrine, preparation of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of 1.5kg of methamphetamine; a drug similar to cocaine, heroin, LSD contrary to NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The court could not take their plea because the four Mexicans claimed not to understand English language and the defence counsel, Benson Ndakara, objected to the use of an interpreter produced by the NDLEA on the grounds of bias.
But the NDLEA counsel, Lambert Nor, told the court that the objection was a ploy to delay the trial and prayed the court to give the defence one week to produce any interpreter of their choice. In response, Ndakara said that they could not produce an interpreter but would accept another interpreter apart from the one in question.
