March 01, (THEWILL) — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, after 13 years in hiding, while also dismantling a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Imo State and intercepting major consignments of illicit drugs across the country.
In a statement signed on Sunday by it’s Spokesperson, Femi Baba Femi, the NDLEA said, Chidiebere, who was first arrested in 2013 over cocaine shipments into Nigeria, was arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in charge No. FHC/L/187c/2923. He, however, jumped bail later that year and went underground after being granted bail, remaining at large for over a decade.
In February 2024, his name resurfaced as one of the masterminds behind the importation of 49.70 kilograms of heroin from South Africa, following the interception of the consignment by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
A follow-up operation conducted 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 one of his guests, Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod. The agency subsequently secured an interim forfeiture of the hotel and froze bank accounts linked to him.
Unable to sustain himself in hiding, Chidiebere surrendered to the agency on February 13, 2026. He is now in custody and will face his pending 2013 charges, alongside fresh charges stemming from the 2024 heroin consignments.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Imo State on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, dismantled a clandestine laboratory at Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, in Njaba Local Government Area, where 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine were recovered along with precursor chemicals and production equipment.
At the Seme border in the Badagry area of Lagos, officers intercepted a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa, on Friday, February 27, with 5,000 pills of tramadol concealed in her luggage. Similarly, 1,040 kilograms of skunk were recovered from an uncompleted building at Akodo village, Seaside Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos.
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 marked CA 911 ABC. Another suspect, Yahaya Usaini, 21, was apprehended along the Zaria–Dutsinma road in Katsina State while transporting 87.4 kilograms of skunk in a Toyota Hiace bus.
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Adewale Fatunmise, 40, and Adebisi Korede, 25, in connection with the seizure of 18.085 kilograms of skunk at the Aregbe area of Osogbo.
Operatives in Taraba State also recovered no fewer than 637,600 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5, from a Mercedes-Benz vehicle intercepted along the Bali–Suntai road en route to 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 (FCT), Abuja, 499.2 kilograms of skunk were recovered at the Dei-Dei area, while in Borno State, a 24-year-old suspect, Bulama Modu, was intercepted along the Bama–Konduga road with 7,000 capsules of tramadol concealed in a commercial vehicle.
The agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign also continued nationwide, with sensitisation lectures held in secondary schools across Niger, Oyo, Jigawa, Cross River and Kano states as part of ongoing drug demand reduction efforts.
Commending officers of the MMIA, Seme, Lagos, Imo, Borno, Kano, Katsina, Taraba, Osun, and FCT Commands for the week’s operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their resilience and professionalism.
He reiterated the agency’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks and bring offenders to justice, particularly in reference to the arrest of Chidiebere after 13 years on the run.
“I commend our officers and men for their persistence and professionalism in this operation,” he said.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
