The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 58-year-old suspected drug kingpin who had been on the wanted list of both Nigerian and British authorities for more than 15 years.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the arrest marks a major setback for international drug trafficking networks.
Babafemi disclosed that operatives from the agency’s Special Operations Unit carried out a coordinated operation that led to the suspect’s capture at a location in Lagos on February 23.
He explained that the arrest brings to an end a prolonged effort by law enforcement agencies to track down the fugitive, whose alleged criminal activities spanned Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
The statement noted that the suspect was first arrested in the UK in February 2003, convicted on drug trafficking charges, and sentenced to nine years imprisonment. However, he was released after serving about two years following a successful appeal.
He was reportedly arrested again in the UK in July 2011 over further drug-related offences. Although granted administrative bail, he allegedly absconded and returned to Nigeria.
In November 2018, NDLEA operatives arrested him in connection with the discovery of two illegal methamphetamine laboratories in his hometown of Obinugwu in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State. Authorities also recovered about 77.960 kilograms of a substance believed to be methamphetamine and various manufacturing equipment from a property linked to him in Lagos.
He was charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos but later jumped bail and had remained at large until his recent arrest.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, described the operation as a significant milestone in the agency’s campaign against drug cartels.
Marwa warned that individuals involved in illicit drug activities cannot evade justice indefinitely, regardless of where they attempt to hide.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening intelligence-driven operations and expanding international partnerships to prevent Nigeria from becoming a safe haven for global drug traffickers.
The NDLEA chairman also praised members of the Special Operations Unit for their dedication and persistence in tracking down the suspect, emphasizing the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.
