National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, who had been on the run for 13 years over alleged involvement in cocaine and heroin trafficking.
Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency Femi Babafemi, in a statement made available to Newsmen on Sunday, said the suspect was initially arrested in 2013 for cocaine importation and arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos. However, he reportedly jumped bail and went into hiding.
Babafemi disclosed that Chidiebere’s name resurfaced in February 2024 as one of the alleged masterminds behind the importation of 49.70 kilograms of heroin from South Africa. The consignment was intercepted at the import shed of the Lagos airport by NDLEA operatives.
He further revealed that a follow-up operation carried out on February 19, 2024, at the suspect’s Golden Platinum Hotel and Suites located in Okota, Lagos, led to the recovery of an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin from one of the hotel’s guests. The agency subsequently secured an interim forfeiture order on the hotel and froze bank accounts linked to the suspect.
After years in hiding, Chidiebere reportedly surrendered to NDLEA operatives on February 13, 2026. He is currently in custody and is expected to face his pending charges alongside fresh charges related to the 2024 heroin shipments.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Imo State dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Njaba Local Government Area. The agency said 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals, and production equipment were recovered during the operation.
The agency also reported major seizures across Lagos, Taraba, Kano, Katsina, Osun, Borno and the Federal Capital Territory, including 1,040 kilograms of skunk and 637,600 opioid pills, with several suspects arrested.
Reacting to the development, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), commended officers for their persistence and professionalism, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and bringing offenders to justice.
