NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Kingpin After 13 Years in Hiding, Intercepts Major Drug Shipments

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Reginald Chidiebere, bringing to an end a 13-year manhunt.

The agency disclosed that Chidiebere was taken into custody after surrendering to authorities following sustained pressure from law enforcement operations that targeted his alleged drug network.

According to NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was linked to large consignments of cocaine and heroin seized by operatives at the airport in Lagos. His arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the agency’s renewed offensive against high-profile drug traffickers.

Chidiebere was first arrested in 2013 over the importation of cocaine into Nigeria and was subsequently arraigned in court. However, he reportedly jumped bail and went into hiding.

Babafemi further revealed that in February 2024, Chidiebere’s name resurfaced as one of the alleged masterminds behind the importation of 49.70 kilograms of heroin from South Africa. A follow-up operation at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites located on Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, led to the recovery of an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin from one of his guests, identified as Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod.

Following the operation, the agency secured an interim forfeiture order on the hotel and froze bank accounts linked to the suspect in 2024. The sustained enforcement actions eventually forced him out of hiding and back into custody for prosecution.

Clandestine Laboratory Dismantled in Imo

In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Imo State dismantled a clandestine drug laboratory in Njaba Local Government Area, where 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine were recovered.

Chairman of NDLEA, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, described the arrest as a clear signal of the agency’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks and ensure that offenders face justice, regardless of how long they evade arrest.

Drug Interceptions Across the Country

At the Seme border in the Badagry area of Lagos, operatives intercepted a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa, who concealed 5,000 pills of tramadol in her luggage.

In another operation, officers recovered 1,040 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, from an uncompleted building at Akodo village, Seaside Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos.

In Kano State, a 45-year-old suspect, Ashiru Bala, was arrested at Lambu in Tafa Local Government Area with 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup. Similarly, in Katsina State, a 21-year-old suspect, Yahaya Usaini, was apprehended while transporting 87.4 kilograms of skunk.

The agency also confirmed additional arrests and seizures in Osun, Taraba, Dei-Dei in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Bama in Borno State, as it intensifies its nationwide clampdown on drug trafficking and abuse.

The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to sustained enforcement operations aimed at curbing the menace of illicit drugs and safeguarding communities across Nigeria.