Four kingpins arrested as NDLEA bursts drug syndicates in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its command in Lagos state recently intercepted three major drug syndicates leading to the arrest of a baroness and four other kingpins.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesperson, said operatives of the agency recovered “multi-billion naira worth of cocaine, opioids, and loud”.

He said Faith Nwankwo, a female head of one of the syndicates, was arrested on August 9, at her residence in the Festac axis of Lagos.

The NDLEA spokesperson said Nwankwo’s arrest came shortly after she returned from a warehouse in Amuwo Odofin, where she loaded eight cartons of tramadol 225mg into an unmarked white Honda Pilot SUV.

Babafemi said a search at her residence and the warehouse led to the recovery of 2,750,000 pills of Tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg packed in 39 cartons weighing 1,916 kg.

He said the drugs and the SUV were recovered while the suspect was taken into custody.

Babafemi said in another operation, NDLEA operatives tracked a drug syndicate to Atlantic Nominee Estate in the Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos, on August 4.

According to him, a blue Toyota Highlander SUV was loaded with 8.49kg of cocaine and 10.3kg Canadian loud for distribution by the duo of Urama Chinemelum Precious and Adelakun Ilelabayo Oluade.

He said a follow-up operation at Chinemelum’s residence led to the recovery of additional 18 blocks of loud, weighing 18.5kg.

Babafemi said the agency also burst another syndicate involved in the importation, distribution and diversion of ephedrine hydrochloride on August 5.

“This is a precursor chemical used for the production of methamphetamine and this came following intelligence that members of the cartel were planning to divert 25 kilograms of the substance,” he said.

“Two members of the syndicate: Udeh Ogbonna, 53, and Okonkwo Uzozie, 50, were arrested at a commercial bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos where they were attempting to send the concealed substance to the south-east.

“A body search conducted on the two suspects led to the recovery of three thousand ($3,000) US dollars found on Udeh Ogbonna.”