The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate attempting to smuggle cocaine to Malaysia, arresting an alleged mastermind identified as Nwabueze Felix Onyeka, a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia.
The suspect was arrested during a sting operation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State after investigators traced him to his hometown in Aziora, Ozubulu.
A statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the arrest followed the interception of a shipment containing 36 parcels of cocaine weighing 5.80 kilograms. The drugs had been carefully concealed inside the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mr. Babafemi said before Onyeka’s arrest, investigators had taken four other suspects into custody in Lagos. They include cargo agent Alalade Taiwo Azeez, driver Ndem Ogbonna Kelechi, trader Okeke Tochukwu Chimezie, and Igwilo Chidi Henry, who allegedly supplied the Orijin bitters cartons used to hide the cocaine.
In a separate operation in Taraba State, NDLEA spokesman said its operatives arrested Daniel Harrison Ugwuoke, 30, along the Zaki-Biam-Wukari Road after discovering 43,980 capsules of tramadol concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks. He was travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State.
The agency also recorded several other major seizures across the country.
In Kaduna State, Boniface Agu, 65, and Monday Nwaeze, 50, were arrested with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine during a raid in Gwantu.
In Ebonyi State, officers arrested Francis Ifara Eja, 65, after recovering 231.7 kilograms of skunk at Ikwo.
In Plateau State, a 75-year-old man, Alhaji Babani, was arrested in Kurgwi, Qua’an Pan Local Government Area with 15 kilograms of skunk.
Meanwhile, in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence arrested Dahiru Mohammed, 65, and Isiya Lawan, 36, at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, where they recovered 587 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 556 kilograms.
Beyond enforcement, the agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign in schools and communities across Anambra, Enugu, Ogun and Kano states during the week.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised commands in MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi and Gombe for their efforts.
Marwa “noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to raise the operational bar.”
