The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Sunday, March 1st, announced that a notorious drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, has surrendered after 13 years on the run, following the seizure of his hotel in Lagos and the freezing of bank accounts linked to him.
Chidiebere was first arrested in 2013 for cocaine trafficking and arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the federal high court in Lagos, in charge number FHC/L/187c/2923.
After securing bail, he fled and remained at large for over a decade.
Chidiebere was further linked to large consignments of heroin intercepted at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in 2024, including 49.7 kilograms imported from South Africa.
A follow-up raid at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites at Ago palace way, Okota, Lagos, yielded an additional 2.2 kilograms of heroin from a guest, prompting the agency to secure interim forfeiture of the property and freeze his bank accounts.
According to the agency, mounting financial and legal pressure forced Chidiebere out of hiding, leading to his surrender on February 13.
He has since been taken into custody and is expected to face pending charges from his 2013 arraignment as well as fresh allegations linked to the large heroin consignments intercepted in 2024.
NDLEA operatives on February 25 dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory hidden in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, Njaba local government area of Imo state.
Operatives recovered 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine along with large quantities of precursor chemicals and production equipment.
Methamphetamine, Precursor Chemicals, Production Equipment
At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa, was intercepted on February 27, with 5,000 tramadol pills concealed in her luggage.
Hadiza Musa
On February 25, 1,040 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from an uncompleted building in Akodo village, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
In Kano state, Ashiru Bala, 45, was arrested on February 25 while transporting 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup in his Volkswagen Golf car along Lambu, Tafa local government area.
Ashiru Bala
In Katsina, Yahaya Usaini, 21, was apprehended on February 27 with 87.4 kilograms of skunk aboard a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number KUJ 544 RL along the Zaria-Dutsinma road.
Yahaya Usaini
Two suspects, Adewale Fatunmise, 40, and Adebisi Korede, 25, were arrested at the Aregbe area of Osogbo, Osun state, on February 23, following the seizure of 18.085 kilograms of skunk.
Adewale Fatunmise, Adebisi Korede
In Taraba state, a Mercedes-Benz vehicle intercepted along the Bali-Suntai road on February 26 was found to be carrying 637,600 pills of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.
A separate operation in Lankaviri Yorro area of the state led to the arrest of Musa Usman, 27, and the recovery of 126.022 kilograms of skunk.
Musa Usman
On February 25, 499.2 kilograms of skunk were recovered in the Dei-Dei area of Abuja, while Bulama Modu, 24, was arrested on February 24, with 7,000 tramadol capsules aboard a commercial vehicle along Bama-Konduga road, Borno state.
Bulama Modu
The NDLEA chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the officers involved across various commands for the operational successes.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug networks and ensuring offenders are brought to justice.
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