NDLEA Apprehends Wanted Drug Baron, Seizes Meth, Precursors, and Guns in Imo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a major drug cartel involved in the production and distribution of the deadly psychoactive substance methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘mkpuru mmiri’.

This was revealed in a statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday in Abuja. Babafemi announced that NDLEA operatives had apprehended the leader of the syndicate, 42-year-old Joachin Mbonu, along with his associate, in his mansion located in Umuomi village, Uzogba-Ezenomi autonomous community, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo.

The cartel, with operational bases in Imo and Rivers states, became a target for the agency following intelligence reports that it was responsible for distributing substantial quantities of methamphetamine, particularly in the South-East, South-South, and other regions of the country.

After weeks of surveillance, officers from a special operations unit of the NDLEA tracked and traced the drug lord to his village mansion in Imo state. The suspect was caught alongside a cartel member, 34-year-old Chibuike Ofoegbu, with various quantities of methamphetamine, its precursor chemicals, a pump-action gun, and cartridges.

Exhibits recovered from the house included 419.99 grams of methamphetamine, 750 grams of iodine (a precursor chemical for meth), 500 grams of sodium bicarbonate (another precursor chemical), two electronic weighing scales, and a pump-action gun with four cartridges.

Babafemi further disclosed that operatives moved swiftly to another of Mbonu’s hideouts located at 11 Redemption Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers state. Additional exhibits recovered there included 750 grams of processed sodium bicarbonate, 170 grams of plain sodium bicarbonate, and 75 grams of methamphetamine.

A raid on the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Chinedu (currently at large), in Njaba Local Government Area, Imo, led to the recovery of another pump-action gun with 25 cartridges and other items.

While Mbonu is in custody, two of his mansions in Imo state have been marked for potential forfeiture to the Federal Government. Babafemi noted that Mbonu had previously escaped from South Africa, where he had lived for years and learned the art of cooking methamphetamine. Upon returning to Nigeria, he continued his criminal activities by setting up clandestine laboratories in remote villages to conceal his operations.

Reacting to the successful takedown of the meth syndicate, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men involved in the multi-pronged operations. Marwa stated that the manner in which the interdiction was carried out should send a strong signal to other cartels that there is no hiding place for them in any part of the country.