NDLEA arrests wanted drug kingpin after 13 years, busts Imo meth laboratory

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a wanted drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, who had been in hiding for 13 years over alleged involvement in cocaine and heroin trafficking. This was disclosed in a statement signed and released by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday. According to the statement, Chidiebere, who was first arrested in 2013 for importing cocaine into Nigeria, had been arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos but jumped bail shortly after and disappeared. His name later resurfaced in February 2024 as one of the alleged masterminds behind the importation of 49.70kg of heroin from South Africa, intercepted by NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport. The statement said, “After 13 years in hiding, a notorious drug kingpin Reginald Peter Chidiebere has been taken into custody following the seizure of large consignments of cocaine and heroin linked to him by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos. “The drug lord was first arrested in 2013 over the shipment of cocaine into Nigeria and was subsequently arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court Lagos in charge no. FHC/L/187c/2923. He however jumped bail and went into hiding after the trial judge granted him bail in 2013 and has since remained at large. “In February 2024, his name featured prominently as one of the masterminds of the shipment of 49.70 kilograms heroin imported from South Africa following the interception of the consignment by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Lagos airport. “A follow-up operation was carried out on 19th February 2024 at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites, located at No. 16/18 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos where an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin was recovered from one of his guests, Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod. As a result, Chidiebere went underground. The agency however secured the interim forfeiture of his hotel and blocked all bank accounts traced to him since 2024. “Following these developments, Chidiebere could no longer sustain himself in hiding, prompting his surrender to the agency on 13th February 2026 and has since been taken into custody to face his pending charges for which he jumped bail in 2013 and fresh charges based on the 2024 heroin consignments linked to him. In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Imo State dismantled a clandestine laboratory at Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, in Njaba Local Government Area, where 18.4kg of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals and production equipment were recovered. The statement added, “Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Imo state on Wednesday 25th February 2026 dismantled a clandestine laboratory tucked in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, Njaba local government area of the state where 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine were recovered along with large quantity of precursor chemicals and equipment used in the production of the illicit substance. At the Seme border officers on intercepted a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa, who allegedly concealed 5,000 tramadol pills in her luggage. In another operation the same day, operatives recovered 1,040kg of skunk from an uncompleted building at Akodo village, Seaside Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki axis. The statement added, “At the Seme border in Badagry area of Lagos, NDLEA officers at the departure tarmac on Friday 27th February intercepted a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa who concealed 5,000 pills of tramadol in her luggage, while a total of 1,040 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from an uncompleted building at Akodo village, Seaside Eleko, along Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos by operatives on Wednesday 25th February. “In Kano State, a suspect, Ashiru Bala, 45, was arrested with 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in a Volkswagen Golf car, while another suspect, Yahaya Usaini, 21, was apprehended two days later along the Zaria–Dutsinma road in Katsina State with 87.4kg of skunk hidden in a Toyota Hiace bus.” The statement said, “A suspect, Ashiru Bala, 45, was arrested with 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup at Lambu, Tafa LGA, Kano state on Wednesday 25th February while conveying the consignment in his Volkswagen Golf car marked CA 911 ABC. “Another suspect Yahaya Usaini, 21, was nabbed on Friday 27th February while transporting 87.4 kilograms of skunk in a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number KUJ 544 RL along Zaria- Dutsinma road, Katsina state.” Also in Osun State, two suspects, Adewale Fatunmise, 40, and Adebisi Korede, 25, were arrested on February 23 in connection with the seizure of 18.085kg of skunk in Osogbo. “In Osun, two suspects: Adewale Fatunmise, 40, and Adebisi Korede, 25, were arrested by NDLEA operatives on Monday 23rd February in connection with the seizure of 18.085kg skunk at Aregbe area of Osogbo, the state capital. “In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a Mercedes-Benz vehicle along Bali–Suntai road on February 26 conveying 637,600 pills of opioids including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5. A separate operation in Lankaviri Yorro area led to the arrest of Musa Usman, 27, and the recovery of 126.022kg of skunk. “No fewer than 637,600 pills of opioids including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5 were recovered when NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a Mercedes-Benz vehicle marked KWL-607DC along Bali – Suntai road while conveying the consignment to Baruwa in Gashaka LGA, Taraba state. A similar interdiction operation at Lankaviri Yorro area of the state led to the arrest of Musa Usman, 27, and the seizure of 126.022kg skunk. “Similarly, 499.2kg of skunk was seized at Dei-Dei in the Federal Capital Territory, while in Borno State a suspect, Bulama Modu, 24, was intercepted along the Bama–Konduga road with 7,000 capsules of tramadol. “While 499.2kg skunk was recovered at Dei -Dei area of the FCT, Abuja on Wednesday 25th February, a suspect, Bulama Modu, 24, was intercepted in a commercial vehicle conveying 7,000 capsules of tramadol along Bama -Konduga road, Borno state on Tuesday 24th February,” the statement added. Watch the video below: ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ?????, ????? ??? ???? ?????????? Credit: X | FemiBabafemi — Follow us for more breaking news and videos pic.twitter.com/M3nh9jjRKN— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) March 1, 2026