Nigerian nabbed in Cebu drug bust

CEBU CITY, Philippines—A Nigerian who claimed he has been framed up is facing charges of selling illegal drugs following his arrest on Tuesday by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in an entrapment operation in a village here.

James Cunta Okwudili Uyanneh, 53, yielded P350,000 worth of shabu, according to the NBI regional office in Central Visayas.

Uyanneh denied he dealt in drugs, saying he has no reason to since he operates a legitimate business here that is registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bernard dela Cruz, NBI regional agent and leader of the team that arrested Uyanneh, said Uyanneh has been under surveillance for four months.

Dela Cruz said reports he gathered from the village of Guadalupe pointed to the Nigerian as a drug dealer.

Undercover agents set up a deal with Uyanneh, who agreed to meet with what he thought were drug buyers in a small hotel called Moonlight Lodging Inn.

There, the drug transaction took place with Uyanneh handing over at least 70 grams of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and the undercover agents handing over marked money to the Nigerian.

Uyanneh said he was at the hotel only to collect payment for a loan from someone who borrowed money from him.

On Thursday, NBI agents raided Uyanneh’s apartment and seized 700 grams of shabu worth P3.5 million. Inquirer Visayas