- The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that Chigozie had been on the NDLEA’s wanted list since September 15, 2023
In the past week, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) conducted interdiction operations resulting in the seizure of four tons of illegal substances, with a notorious drug kingpin, Obiorah Chigozie, at the forefront.
Chigozie is wanted for his involvement in attempting to transport illicit drug shipments to the United Kingdom.
The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that Chigozie had been on the NDLEA’s wanted list since September 15, 2023. This status arose after authorities intercepted a 1,500kg skunk hidden within flour, destined for London, UK, at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. Additionally, his freight agent, Nworah Adaugo, was apprehended during this incident.
“Convinced that the 1.500kg consignment had sailed through, Obiorah walked into the agency’s dragnet on Thursday, September 28, when he personally brought another tranche of 2.00kg concealed in cartons to the airport for shipment to the UK. In his interview, Obiorah claimed he was into shoe sales in Lagos before venturing into the illicit drug business,” Babafemi added.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives attached to the Federal Capital Territory Command, on Friday, September 29, intercepted a container truck with registration number BD G41 XM coming from Lagos to Kano at the Gwagwalada area of the FCT.
No less than 1,188 kilogrammes of skunk loaded at Owo, Ondo State, and hidden under cartons of toothpaste were recovered from the truck, and its driver, Amafan Fattison, 28, was arrested.
In the same vein, NDLEA officers in Bayelsa state on Wednesday, September 27, seized 432kgs of the same substance from an abandoned J5 bus along Saipem road, Opolo, Yenagoa. The vehicle was equally recovered from the scene for further investigation.
Babafemi further noted that “In Kano, a septuagenarian, Ado Mai Unguwa, 70, was arrested on Saturday, September 30 with 143.2kgs skunk in Dundee village, Tofa LGA, while operatives in Enugu same day recovered 110.6kgs of same substance from a locked-up shop at Aria new market.
“Operatives in Lagos also on Saturday, September 30 stormed the notorious Idi-Oro drug enclave in Mushin where they seized 212.5kgs of cannabis sativa belonging to a wanted drug lord.
“This is even as NDLEA officers in Kwara state recovered 104kgs of skunk from a Toyota Camry car in the Offa area of the state, while a Chadian, Mohammed Ibrahim, 25, was nabbed at Mafa checkpoint, Borno state with 11.8kgs of same substance on Monday, September 25.”