NDLEA Apprehends Drug Baron Charles Ezeh in Lagos Hotel for Seizure of N567m Worth of Drugs
On Thursday, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) conducted a successful operation resulting in the arrest of a notorious drug baron named Charles Ezeh. The operation was prompted by the recovery of a significant consignment of methamphetamine weighing 30.10kg, with an estimated street value of N567m.
The illicit drugs were cleverly concealed inside powdered custard containers, strategically included within a consolidated cargo intended for shipment to London, United Kingdom. The interception took place at the export shed of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc, located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.
On Thursday, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended Charles Ezeh, a drug baron, after seizing a shipment of methamphetamine weighing 30.10kg. The street value of the drugs is estimated to be N567m.
The illicit drugs were concealed within powdered custard containers, cleverly hidden as part of a consolidated cargo intended for transportation to London, United Kingdom. The interception took place at the export shed of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc, situated within the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday.
In a statement released on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson for the agency, provided details of the operation. According to Babafemi, the interception at the airport was followed by a series of subsequent operations that led to the arrest of Nwobodo Chidiebere, a freight agent, and Chioma Akuta, a female suspect. Ultimately, the drug lord behind the seized shipment, Charles Ezeh, was apprehended at Sotel Suites in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
Babafemi revealed that Ezeh initially claimed to be a businessman dealing in articles in Onitsha, Anambra State. However, upon investigation, it was discovered that he had been living with his wife and children in London until December 10, 2022. He fled to Nigeria after being involved in a drug-related offense in the UK.
While Ezeh had been staying in hotels since his return to Nigeria in December, intelligence operatives were able to locate his mansion at No. 1, Hawawu Abikan Street, Lekki, on May 19. A search was conducted, resulting in the recovery of his travel and property documents, among other items.
In a separate incident, on May 15, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa arrested Ikechukwu Uzoma, a notorious 32-year-old drug dealer, in the Mubi area of the state. Uzoma was found in possession of 1kg of skunk.
Babafemi highlighted that Ikechukwu had a history of prior arrests and convictions for the same offense. He had been sentenced to six months in prison in 2017 and received a two-year jail term in 2019.
Furthermore, Faisal Mohammed, a trans-border trafficker, was apprehended on Wednesday, May 17, in Mubi. The arrest took place after a truck from Onitsha, Anambra State, was intercepted. Inside the truck, hidden beneath its body, three blue rubber jerrycans were discovered, containing a total of 2,376 sachets of tramadol, equivalent to 23,760 pills. The suspect confessed that the opioids were intended for transportation to Cameroon.
In Oyo State, two individuals named Osas Susan, 35, and Thomas Biodun, 23, were arrested in Igbon, Gambari, within the Ogbomoso North Local Government Area. They were found in possession of 2.13kg of cannabis. Additionally, Idris Muhammed, 55, was apprehended with 4,500 pills of tramadol during a routine search of a commercial bus on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, where he was traveling with other passengers.
Similarly, Bulus Mikah, 63, was arrested in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, with over 5kg of various opioids, including tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol, and exol-5. In another incident, Shehu Muhammadu Dandare, 25, was found with a total of 965kg of cannabis in Maraban Jos, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
Babafemi also mentioned that a warehouse in Uhodoua forest, located in the Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, was raided by operatives, resulting in the recovery of 552kg of cannabis. Additionally, ten suspects were arrested in different parts of Onitsha, Anambra State, on Friday, May 19, with a total of 5.587kg of cannabis sativa, 144.4 grams of methamphetamine, and 48,260 capsules of tramadol.
Furthermore, on Friday, May 19, in Kwara State, two suspects named Mohammed Isa, 47, and Mohammed Haman, 36, were apprehended along the Ilorin-Lagos road while traveling in a commercial bus bound for Maiduguri, Borno State. They were found in possession of 6kg of cannabis, 50 grams of methamphetamine, as well as 20 pieces of military camouflage caps and uniforms.
On the same day, in Jigawa State, Ibrahim Abdullahi, 53, was arrested in Sara town, Gwaram LGA, with 120kg of cannabis.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made significant arrests and seizures, as disclosed by spokesperson Femi Babafemi. On May 17, a trans-border trafficker named Faisal Mohammed, 27, was apprehended in Mubi. The authorities intercepted a truck from Onitsha, Anambra State, which contained 2,376 sachets of tramadol, totaling 23,760 pills. The drugs were concealed in three blue rubber jerrycans hidden beneath the trailer. Faisal Mohammed confessed that the opioids were intended for transportation to Cameroon.
In Oyo State, two suspects, Osas Susan, 35, and Thomas Biodun, 23, were arrested in Igbon, Gambari, with 2.13kg of cannabis. Additionally, Idris Muhammed, 55, was caught with 4,500 pills of tramadol during a routine search on a commercial bus along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
In Kaduna State, Bulus Mikah, 63, was apprehended in Kafanchan with over 5kg of various opioids, including tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol, and exol-5. Another significant seizure occurred in Maraban Jos, Igabi local government area, where Shehu Muhammadu Dandare, 25, was found in possession of 965kg of cannabis.
During a raid on a warehouse in the Uhodoua forest of Esan South-East Local Government Area in Edo State, 552kg of cannabis was recovered. The operation also involved the destruction of a cannabis farm spanning 1.5 hectares. In Onitsha, Anambra State, 10 suspects were arrested, and a total of 5.587kg of cannabis sativa, 144.4 grams of methamphetamine, and 48,260 capsules of tramadol were seized on May 19.
In Kwara State, Mohammed Isa, 47, and Mohammed Haman, 36, were arrested on the Ilorin-Lagos road. They were found in possession of 6kg of cannabis, 50 grams of methamphetamine, and 20 pieces of military camouflage caps and uniforms. On the same day, in Jigawa State, Ibrahim Abdullahi, 53, was nabbed with 120kg of cannabis in Sara town, Gwaram LGA.
Furthermore, during a raid on a drug joint in Idanre, 628 bottles of a new psychoactive substance called skuchies were recovered. Four suspects were arrested: Olamide Olusola, 26, Abiodun Tijjani, 21, Fatope Temidayo, 29, and Agba Obi, 30, as well as Olafisoye Festus, 26.
In Kano, a suspect named Kayode Hakeem, 22, was arrested in Hawan Dawaki with 293 blocks of cannabis weighing 211.6kg. These operations signify the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and related offenses.
