The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Sunday announced the arrest of five leaders of a drug syndicate operating in different parts of the world in a special operation that lasted weeks. The operation led to the seizure of different quantities of skunk, methamphetamine and ephedrine as well as air compressors used to conceal and distribute the illicit drugs globally.

A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the cartel leaders were spread across the United Arab Emirates, Benin Republic, Togo, Oman, Thailand, the European continent, and in Anambra, Imo and Lagos states.

Babafemi said while on Christmas and New Year holidays in various parts of Nigeria, the cartel leaders were still coordinating efforts to send illicit consignments to Dubai and other parts of the world.

Their cover was blown on December 29 when their freight agent, Onyeisue Chukwudi was arrested by NDLEA officers at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Chukwudi attempted to export three big automobile air compressors to Dubai and a follow-up operation led to the recovery of additional five compressors in his home at 24 Legacy Road, Ayobo, Lagos.

A total of 27.50kgs of skunk were taken out of the air compressors after welding tools were used to cut them open.

After discovering that the agent was working for a bigger organized criminal group, the NDLEA deployed operatives to track the first kingpin, Onuoha Obioma who lives in the Benin Republic and Togo but visited Lagos occasionally.

On January 7, Obioma walked into the waiting arms of operatives with a bag containing additional air compressors used to conceal 15.7kg of skunk and methamphetamine.

His statement led to the unravelling of two other cartel leaders – Dubai-based Ugo Kelechi and an Anambra-based businessman, Iwueke Ugochukwu aka Odugwu, who were still enjoying the Christmas and New Year holidays in Imo.

They were arrested during an operation on January 10 at their ancestral homes in Umuobi village in Igbejere community, Ihitti-Uboma LGA, Imo where a Lexus SUV and a Toyota jeep were recovered from them.

After days of surveillance, the NDLEA eventually nabbed the cartel boss, Ezenwekwe Obinna, an automobile parts dealer at Alaba International Market, at a bar in Mazamaza, Mile 2, on January 14.

“A search of his home led to the recovery of 607g of ephedrine, a handful of cannabis weighing 20g as well as other paraphernalia, including 271g of dimethyl sulfone used as a cutting agent for ephedrine,” Babafemi said.

Also recovered from him were a chemical precursor and an active ingredient for the production of methamphetamine, a weighing scale and an international passport.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA also noted that no fewer than 2,601.5 kilograms of cannabis and 102,500 pills of pharmaceutical opioids were seized during interdiction operations across Plateau, Edo, Delta, Taraba, Kogi, Kano, Lagos and Adamawa states in the past week.

https://punchng.com/ndlea-busts-transborder-cartel-five-kingpins-arrested/

Cc: Mynd44, Nlfpmod.

Corrinthians:


https://punchng.com/ndlea-busts-transborder-cartel-five-kingpins-arrested/

Cc: Mynd44, Nlfpmod.

Let them come and pay me fine in new notes.

S

Bad news everyday

People still doing this?

T

Is there anyone making legit money in Nigeria If its not drugs, government contracts, yahoo, prostitution ring. They will be flaunting cars and houses, while you doing same businesses with them go dey wonder what you are doing wrong

Opium

But that network wild oo Drug Cartel no be small thing abeg..

Kpoma

Marwa is a hero, listened to his interview with Jimi Disu on Friday. If we have people like that in all important positions like Power, Ports, Petroleum and CBN, Nigeria wouldn't be in this mess.

Unbelievable

Envy everyone n not an Igbo man

Business men during d day but criminals at night

BossGerald I guess these are your hardworking brothers n u will respect these criminals better than iamgrey5 that is doing Pos legally n making a decent living

Mods, how many times would the same topic hit the front page?

Ggh

Dem don push am go frontpage just bcoz igbo name dey thier.

enipe

After days of surveillance, the NDLEA eventually nabbed the cartel boss, Ezenwekwe Obinna, an automobile parts dealer at Alaba International Market,NA dey WAY.

Haha
.if you ever travel abroad live very far off from this animals

They are nothing but trouble

Shameless ruthless criminals


..

enipe.

Meanwhile they won’t take the drugs but are ready to sell to people’s children to take and get destroyed. Too bad.

Tax payer money are actually working.

Marwa just dey catch Obidients dey go

🙄

Omo this NDLEA boss na truly General for the game. Love the intensity in the fight against drugs. Since I stopped smoking I've been more organised, more emotionally mature and mentally alert. Say what you may but the truth is that drugs is bad. If e good we for see our parents dey do am openly. #SayNoToDrugs.

It is well with us

Ugo Kelechi Alex
Iwueke Ugochukwu
Onyeisue Collins Chukwudi
Onuoha Peter Obioma 
Ezenwekwe Obinna Nicodemus
Wilson Ejougo
Okpor Charles Chuks

They are all foreign based "successful businessmen" who are just contributing their quota in developing the universe.

But for me, I will rather blame Tinubu who became jealous of them and then sent Buba Marwa to arrest them.

Tywo2018:
But that network wild oo Drug Cartel no be small thing abeg..

Another lies, how we they classified Pablo Escobar