The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a significant drug cartel led by two suspects, Kelechi Monday Nwaobasi, 49, and his sister, Ms. Chinwe Rose Nwaobasi, 50.
The Special Operation Unit according to the spokesman for the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, arrested the siblings and confiscated cocaine and methamphetamine worth over N4.1 billion in street value from their hideout in Aba, Abia State.
The coordinated operations, he said, took place on Thursday, June 13, and Friday, June 14, 2024, at 3B Boundary Avenue, Aba, and a residence along Ohia Road, Ohia, Abia State.
Months of intelligence gathering culminated in the arrest of the cartel leaders and the seizure of 20.76 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine.
In a related development, Mr. Babafemi said, NDLEA operatives in Lagos State uncovered a large warehouse stocked with codeine-based syrup in the Comfort Oboh area of Kirikiri.
During the intelligence-led raid on Monday, June 10, 2024, four individuals connected with the importation and distribution of the opioid were arrested.
The suspects include Kingsley Amanambu Obumneke, 38; Emeka Emmanuel, 48; Bonaventure Ugochukwu, 59; and Martin Dike, 56.
Authorities seized 82,000 bottles of the opioid, a Toyota Tacuma truck, and two buses used for distribution. The total street value of the confiscated drugs is over N600 million.
Two days later, on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, NDLEA operatives intercepted Ibrahim Abdulhamid with 29,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids, along with 3.9 liters of codeine syrup at Alaba Suru, Ojo local council area.