The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a wanted drug kingpin who had been on the run for 13 years, dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Imo State, and intercepted large consignments of opioids and cannabis in multiple states across the country.
Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, highlighting a series of coordinated operations that led to significant seizures and arrests.
According to the statement, the agency arrested notorious drug baron, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, following the interception of large consignments of cocaine and heroin linked to him at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
Chidiebere was first arrested in 2013 for cocaine trafficking and arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, but jumped bail the same year and went into hiding.
His name resurfaced in February 2024 as one of the masterminds behind the importation of 49.70 kilograms of heroin from South Africa, which was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport. A follow-up operation at his Golden Platinum Hotel and Suites in Okota, Lagos, led to the recovery of an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin from a guest.
The agency subsequently secured an interim forfeiture of the hotel and blocked bank accounts linked to him. Unable to sustain life in hiding, Chidiebere surrendered to NDLEA operatives on 13 February 2026. He is currently in custody and will face both pending and fresh charges.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives on 25 February dismantled a clandestine laboratory in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. The operation led to the recovery of 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, large quantities of precursor chemicals, and equipment used in the production of the illicit drug.
At the Seme border in Lagos, officers intercepted a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa, with 5,000 pills of tramadol concealed in her luggage. Similarly, 1,040 kilograms of skunk were recovered from an uncompleted building in Akodo village, Seaside Eleko, Ibeju-Lekki.
In Kano State, a suspect, Ashiru Bala, was arrested with 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup, while another suspect, Yahaya Usaini, was apprehended in Katsina State with 87.4 kilograms of cannabis.
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects in connection with the seizure of 18.085 kilograms of cannabis in Osogbo.
The agency also recovered 637,600 pills of opioids during an intelligence-led operation in Taraba State, while another suspect was arrested with 126.022 kilograms of cannabis in the state.
Further seizures included 499.2 kilograms of cannabis recovered in the Dei-Dei area of the Federal Capital Territory and 7,000 capsules of tramadol intercepted along the Bama-Konduga road in Borno State.
Babafemi noted that the agency also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools across Niger, Oyo, Jigawa, Cross River and Kano states.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended officers across the various commands for their professionalism and persistence.
Reacting to the arrest of Chidiebere, Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and bringing offenders to justice.
He said the NDLEA would continue to maintain a balanced strategy that focuses on both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction nationwide.
