NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Kingpin After 13 Years in Hiding, Dismantles Meth Lab in Imo

NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Kingpin After 13 Years in Hiding, Dismantles Meth Lab in Imo

....Agency recovers 18.4kg methamphetamine, 1,040kg skunk, 637,600 opioid pills; intercepts tramadol consignments nationwide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, who had been on the run for 13 years after jumping bail in a cocaine trafficking case.

Chidiebere was apprehended following renewed investigations linking him to multiple shipments of cocaine and heroin intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the   Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

He was first arrested in 2013 over cocaine importation and arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos. However, he absconded after being granted bail and remained at large until February 13, 2026, when he surrendered to the agency. He is now in custody to face pending charges from 2013 as well as fresh charges related to heroin consignments traced to him in 2024.

In February 2024, Chidiebere was identified as one of the masterminds behind the importation of 49.70 kilograms of heroin from South Africa, which was intercepted at the Lagos airport’s import shed. A follow-up raid on February 19, 2024, at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites in Okota, Lagos, led to the recovery of an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin from a guest, Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod. The NDLEA subsequently secured an interim forfeiture of the hotel and froze bank accounts linked to him.

Imo Meth Lab Dismantled

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives on February 25, 2026, dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. Officers recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals, and production equipment used in manufacturing the illicit substance.

Nationwide Seizures and Arrests

At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA officers on February 27 intercepted a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa, who concealed 5,000 tramadol pills in her luggage at the departure tarmac.

Operatives also recovered 1,040 kilograms of skunk from an uncompleted building at Akodo village, Seaside Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos on February 25.

In Kano State, a 45-year-old suspect, Ashiru Bala, was arrested at Lambu, Tafa LGA, with 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in a Volkswagen Golf car. Similarly, in Katsina State, 21-year-old Yahaya Usaini was nabbed on February 27 while transporting 87.4 kilograms of skunk in a Toyota Hiace bus along the Zaria-Dutsinma road.

In Osun State, two suspects—Adewale Fatunmise, 40, and Adebisi Korede, 25—were arrested on February 23 in Osogbo over 18.085 kilograms of skunk.

In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Mercedes-Benz vehicle along Bali-Suntai road on February 26, recovering 637,600 opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5, destined for Baruwa in Gashaka LGA. Another operation at Lankaviri Yorro led to the arrest of Musa Usman, 27, and the seizure of 126.022 kilograms of skunk.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 499.2 kilograms of skunk were recovered at Dei-Dei on February 25, while in Borno State, a suspect, Bulama Modu, 24, was arrested along the Bama-Konduga road with 7,000 tramadol capsules.

WADA Campaign Continues

The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign with sensitisation lectures delivered to students and staff of schools across Niger, Oyo, Jigawa, Cross River, and Kano states.

Commending officers across the MMIA, Seme, Lagos, Imo, Borno, Kano, Katsina, Taraba, Osun, and FCT Commands for their efforts, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised their professionalism and balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction strategies.

Reacting to Chidiebere’s arrest, Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice. “I commend our officers and men for their persistence and professionalism in this operation,” he said.