Video: NDLEA Dismantles Trans-Border Drug Cartel, Arrest 5 Kingpins, Seizes Skunk And Meth Hidden In Air Compressors

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested five leaders of the syndicates operating in parts of the world, in the process of successfully dismantling a trans-border drug cartel.

The special operation which lasted weeks had different quantities of skunk, methamphetamine, and ephedrine as well as air compressors used to conceal and distribute them globally recovered.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, January 29, 2023, said the special operation came on the heels of a warning by the Chairman of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) that drug barons and cartels will have it rough in 2023 if they fail to back out of the criminal business.

 

"Leaders of the cartel which spreads across Dubai, UAE; Cotonou, Benin Republic; Togo; Oman, Thailand, and Europe as well as Lagos, Imo, and Onitsha in Anambra state, had while on Christmas and New Year holidays in their villages were still coordinating efforts to send their illicit consignments to Dubai and other parts of the world.," the statement read.

 

Their lid was blown open on Thursday 29th December 2022 when their freight agent, Onyeisue Collins Chukwudi was arrested by NDLEA officers at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos for attempting to export three big automobile air compressors to Dubai. A quick follow-up operation led to the recovery of additional five compressors at his home at 24 Legacy road, Ayobo area of Lagos.

 

A total of 27.50kgs of skunk were taken out of the air compressors after welding equipment was used to cut them open.

 

Further investigations revealed that the freight agent was working for a bigger organized criminal group.

 

As a result, extensive operational tools were deployed to track the first kingpin, Onuoha Peter Obioma who lives in the Benin Republic and Togo but comes occasionally to do business in Lagos.