Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a long-wanted drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, who had been in hiding for 13 years after jumping bail.
The agency said Chidiebere was initially arrested in 2013 over alleged cocaine trafficking and was arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos. However, he reportedly absconded shortly after being granted bail and remained at large.
According to the NDLEA, his name resurfaced in February 2024 during investigations into the interception of 49.70 kilograms of heroin imported from South Africa through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
“In February 2024, his name featured prominently as one of the masterminds behind the importation of 49.70 kilograms of heroin from South Africa after the consignment was intercepted at the Lagos airport,” the agency stated.
The agency added that a follow-up raid conducted on February 19, 2024, at Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites in the Okota area of Lagos — allegedly linked to him — led to the recovery of an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin from a guest, identified as Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod.
“Following that operation, the suspect went underground,” the NDLEA said, noting that it subsequently secured an interim forfeiture order on the hotel and froze bank accounts traced to him.
The agency disclosed that mounting pressure forced Chidiebere out of hiding.
“Unable to sustain himself in hiding, he surrendered to the agency on February 13, 2026, and has since been taken into custody to face his pending 2013 charges as well as fresh charges related to the 2024 heroin consignments,” the statement added.
Reacting to the arrest, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operation.
“I commend our officers and men for their persistence and professionalism in this operation,” Marwa said.
“The agency remains resolute in dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice, no matter how long it takes.”
In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Imo State uncovered a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area.
The agency said 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, along with precursor chemicals and production equipment, were recovered during the raid.
At the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa, on February 27 after discovering 5,000 tramadol pills concealed in her luggage.
In the Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos, operatives recovered 1,040 kilograms of skunk from an uncompleted building in Akodo village, Seaside Eleko.
In Kano State, a 45-year-old suspect, Ashiru Bala, was arrested in Tafa Local Government Area with 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup allegedly transported in a Volkswagen Golf car.
Similarly, in Katsina State, 87.4 kilograms of skunk were seized from a suspect, Yahaya Usaini, who was apprehended along the Zaria-Dutsinma road.
In Osun State, two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 18.085 kilograms of skunk in Osogbo.
NDLEA operatives in Taraba State also intercepted a vehicle conveying 637,600 pills of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam, along the Bali–Suntai road. Another operation in the state led to the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of 126.022 kilograms of skunk.
Additional seizures included 499.2 kilograms of skunk in Dei-Dei, Abuja, and 7,000 tramadol capsules recovered from a suspect along the Bama-Konduga road in Borno State.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools across Niger, Oyo, Jigawa, Cross River and Kano states as part of efforts to reduce drug demand nationwide.
Marwa praised officers across various commands for maintaining a balance between enforcement operations and public enlightenment.
“Our approach remains holistic — reducing supply while intensifying advocacy to cut demand. The fight against drug abuse must be sustained on all fronts,” he said.
