Abuja: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken into custody a suspected notorious drug kingpin following the seizure of large consignments of Cocaine and Heroin linked to him.
This is contained in a statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said the suspect, who had been hiding for 13 years, was arrested by NDLEA Operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
He said that the drug lord was first arrested in 2013 for shipping cocaine into Nigeria. He was later arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, under charge no. FHC/L/187c/2923.
He also said that the suspect, however, jumped bail and went into hiding after the trial judge granted him bail in 2013 and has since remained at large.
“In February 2024, his name featured prominently as one of the masterminds of the shipment of 49.70 kilograms of heroin imported from South Africa.
“This followed the interception of the consignment by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Lagos airport.
“A follow-up operation was carried out on February 19, 2024, at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites, located at No. 16/18 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.
“There, they found another 2.20 kilograms of heroin with one of his guests, Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod. So, Chidiebere went into hiding again,” he said.
Babafemi said that, however, the agency secured the interim forfeiture of his hotel and blocked all bank accounts traced to him since 2024.
According to him, these actions made it difficult for the suspect to remain in hiding, leading him to surrender to the agency on February 13, 2026.
He said, “He is now in custody to answer for skipping court in 2013 and for the 2024 heroin shipments tied to him.”
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers in Imo State broke up a hidden laboratory in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, Njaba local government area on Wednesday, February 25.
Babafemi said that 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine were recovered along with a large quantity of precursor chemicals and equipment used in the production of the illicit substance.
