NDLEA arrests wanted drug baron in Imo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two members of a drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called “mkpuru mmiri” in Imo State.

The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said a 42-year-old leader of the syndicate, Joachin Mbonu, and his associate were arrested in his mansion tucked in Umuomi village, Uzogba-Ezenomi autonomous community, Ikeduru local government area of the state.

He said that the cartel with operational bases in Imo and Rivers States became a target of the agency following intelligence on its distribution of a substantial quantity of methamphetamine in the South-East, South-South and other parts of the country.

The spokesman said: “After weeks of surveillance, officers of a special operations unit of the agency on Friday, tracked and traced the drug lord to his village mansion in Imo state.

“The suspect was caught with a member of his cartel, Chibuike Ofoegbu, 34, with different quantities of methamphetamine, its precursor chemicals, a pump action gun and cartridges recovered.

“Exhibits recovered from the house include: 419.99 grams of methamphetamine; 750 grams of iodine, a precursor chemical for meth; and 500 grams of sodium bicarbonate.

“Others are a precursor chemical for meth; two electronic weighing scales and a pump action gun with four cartridges.”

Babafemi said that the operatives moved swiftly to another of Mbonu’s hideout located at 11 Redemption Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers.

READ ALSO: NDLEA arrests 65-year-old for dealing in illicit drugs in Sokoto

He said that additional exhibits: 750 grams of processed sodium bicarbonate; 170 grams of plain sodium bicarbonate and 75 grams of meth were recovered from the building.

“Another raid in the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Chinedu, currently at large, at Njaba LGA, Imo , led to the recovery of another pump action gun with 25 cartridges, among other items.

“While the kingpin cools his heels in custody, two of his mansions in Imo state have been marked for possible forfeiture to the Federal Government.

“Mbonu had escaped from South Africa where he lived for years and mastered the art of cooking methamphetamine after he came under investigation for drug dealings.

“Upon his return to Nigeria, he continued the criminal trade by setting up clandestine laboratories in remote villages to shield his nefarious activities,” he added.

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