5 Kingpins Arrested By The NDLEA

Agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were able to take down a trans-border drug cartel in a special operation that lasted weeks, arresting five of its leaders, and seizing various quantities of ephedrine, methamphetamine, and skunk as well as air compressors used to conceal and distribute them around the world.

Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesman, stated on Sunday in Abuja that the special operation followed the Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), warned that drug lords and cartels would face difficult times in 2023 if they did not give up their criminal activities.

He claimed that the cartel’s leaders, who are spread across Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Cotonou, Benin Republic, Togo, Oman, Thailand, and Europe as well as Lagos, Imo, and Onitsha in Anambra state, had continued to plan their illegal shipments while on Christmas and New Year’s vacations in their villages.

Babafemi said, “Their lid was blown open on Thursday 29th December 2022 when their freight agent, Onyeisue Collins Chukwudi was arrested by NDLEA officers at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos for attempting to export three big automobile air compressors to Dubai.

“A quick follow-up operation led to the recovery of additional five compressors at his home at 24 Legacy road, Ayobo area of Lagos. A total of 27.50kgs of skunk were taken out of the air compressors after welding equipment was used to cut them open.”

He claimed that further investigations had shown the freight agent was an employee of a larger organized criminal enterprise. The first kingpin, Onuoha Peter Obioma, who resides in Benin Republic and Togo but occasionally travels to Lagos for business, was thus the focus of significant operating instruments.

The efforts paid off when Obioma approached NDLEA agents on Saturday, January 7, 2023, carrying a bag containing air compressors used to conceal 15.7 kg of skunk and a crystalline substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine after the agency’s sniffer dogs recognized compressors used for drug concealment.

He said, “Obioma’s statement led to the unravelling of two other leaders of the cartel: Dubai-based, Ugo Kelechi Alex (aka KC); and Iwueke Ugochukwu (aka Odugwu), an Onitsha, Anambra-based businessman, who were at that point still enjoying the Christmas and New Year holidays in their village in Imo State.

“A well-coordinated operation was thereafter carried out on Tuesday 10th January at their ancestral homes in Umuobi village, Igbejere community, Ihitti-Uboma LGA, Imo State, while the arrowhead of the cartel identified as Ezenwekwe Obinna Nicodemus, an automobile parts dealer at Alaba International market, Lagos was put under surveillance. A Lexus SUV and a Toyota jeep were immediately recovered from Kelechi and Iwueke.”

According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Obinna made numerous dramatic attempts to avoid arrest before being apprehended on January 14th at a bar in Lagos’ Mazamaza, Mile 2 neighbourhood.

Following a search of his residence, authorities found 607 grams of ephedrine, 20 grams of cannabis, and other drugs and paraphernalia, including 271 grams of dimethyl sulfone, which was used to cut the ephedrine, a chemical precursor and main component of methamphetamine.

A weighing scale and an international passport were both found at his residence.