The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a wanted drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, after 13 years in hiding over alleged cocaine and heroin trafficking.
The agency said Chidiebere was apprehended following the interception of large consignments of cocaine and heroin linked to him at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.
According to a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was first arrested in 2013 over cocaine importation and arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos, but jumped bail and went into hiding.
Babafemi said Chidiebere’s name resurfaced in February 2024 as one of the masterminds of a 49.70kg heroin shipment from South Africa intercepted at the Lagos airport.
He said a follow-up operation at the suspect’s hotel, Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites, led to the recovery of an additional 2.20kg of heroin from a guest.
“The agency subsequently secured interim forfeiture of the hotel and blocked bank accounts linked to him.
“Unable to sustain himself in hiding, the suspect surrendered to NDLEA on Feb. 13, 2026, and is now in custody to face pending and fresh charges,” he said.
In a related development, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, recovering 18.4kg of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals and production equipment.
He added that at the Seme border, operatives intercepted a Togolese woman with 5,000 tramadol pills, while 1,040kg of skunk were recovered from an uncompleted building in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos.
Other seizures recorded across the country included 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup in Kano State, 87.4kg of skunk in Katsina State, 18.085kg of skunk in Osun State, and 637,600 opioid pills in Taraba State.
Additional recoveries were made in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Borno State, where suspects were arrested with various quantities of tramadol and cannabis.
The agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns also continued nationwide during the week.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers and men of the agency for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa said the agency remained resolute in dismantling criminal networks and bringing offenders to justice.
“I commend our officers and men for their persistence and professionalism in this operation,” he said.
