Other beneficiaries of the ASR Africa grant, besides NDLEA are the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Managing Director, ASR Africa,Ubon Udoh, who presented the documents and keys of the vehicle to Chairman/CEO of the NDLEA, Mohammed Buba Marwa, a retired brigadier general, said the founder and chair of the BUA Group is very passionate about giving back to society and has created the initiative to uplift and restore the dignity and lives of Africans.
Although ASR Africa is a Security Sector Support Grant, findings revealed that the platform was used to appease the security agencies over the cocaine trafficking crime.
Investigations by Pointblanknews.com revealed that customs banned BUA from bringing shipments or any ship linked to them into Nigeria over alleged involvement in cocaine importation.
In 2022, it was gathered that cocaine was found in MV SPAR SCORPIO laden with the cargo of bulk sugar for BUA sugar refinery.
In 2023, a vessel named MV COOPER ISLAND linked with BUA, was detained at Josepdam Tin can Island Port, Lagos, Nigeria after cocaine was allegedly found in it.
In November 2022, a Lagos Federal High Court discharged seven Indian citizens and one Nigerian who had been charged by the NDLEA with illegally bringing cocaine into the country, through a cargo meant for a Nigerian company by the name, BUA.
The seven Indians released by the court presided over by Justice Ayokunle Faji are Singh Vikash; Kunnaserypallam Ashraf Inzam; Xaiver Fernando Santhanaria; Mandal Surjeet Ashok; Tandel Pratikkumar Pravinbai; and Barthwal Rohan Sunil.
The Nigerian who was also freed from the allegations was Shedrack Yurama.
Justice Faji cleared the crew of the vessel after upholding their no-case submissions filed by their counsel, Mr. Femi Atoyebi, Tunde Adejuyigbe, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), and others, in a three-count amended charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation of 43.1 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.
Findings reveal that while the foreigners who were found on board the ship were discharged and acquitted, the clearing agents hired to clear the supposed sugar-laden vessel declared wanted, the charterer of the vessel, Sea Pioneer Ltd based in the UK, as well as BUA International Ltd the importers, consignee, and receivers of the products which cocaines were found, operating in Nigeria were not mentioned in the case at all.
BUA imports sugar from Brazil. Brazil is a major hub for cocaine trafficking.
A Director of Operations and Investigations of NDLEA, Mr Gbenga Mabo, revealed that over 80 per cent of the cocaine trafficked into Nigeria comes from Brazil, through Highway 10.
“I don’t want to say Brazil is not a producer, but Brazil is not really a significant producer, but because of the borders of Brazil is big, and the Amazon River, Brazil is surrounded by Peru, Bolivia, Chile and others. So, a lot of cocaine gets into Brazil, and a syndicate of Nigerians operates in Brazil and they get it from Brazil to Lagos,” he said.