In a major crackdown, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a high-profile drug baron who had evaded law enforcement for years.
Joachin Chikaodi Mbonu, a 42-year-old alleged leader of a sophisticated methamphetamine trafficking syndicate, was arrested on July 5th in his secluded mansion in Imo State.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Mbonu’s cartel was responsible for the widespread distribution of the deadly “Mkpuru mmiri” drug throughout the South-East, South-South, and other parts of the country. The agency had been monitoring the syndicate’s activities for weeks before conducting a raid that led to Mbonu’s capture, along with one of his associates, Kenneth Chibuike Ofoegbu.
The operation resulted in the seizure of a substantial haul of narcotics and precursor chemicals, including 419.99 grams of methamphetamine, 750 grams of iodine, 500 grams of sodium bicarbonate, and various drug production paraphernalia. Authorities also recovered a pump-action shotgun and ammunition from the suspects’ hideout.
Babafemi revealed that Mbonu had previously evaded law enforcement in South Africa, where he had established himself as a major player in the drug trade. Upon returning to Nigeria, the fugitive drug lord set up clandestine laboratories in remote villages to continue his illicit operations, effectively shielding his activities from the authorities.
“This is a significant victory in our ongoing war against the scourge of methamphetamine and other dangerous substances,” Babafemi stated. “The arrest of Mbonu and the dismantling of his sophisticated cartel will deal a major blow to the supply and distribution of these deadly drugs in the region.”
The NDLEA has pledged to continue its relentless pursuit of drug barons and their networks, vowing to seize their assets and ensure they face the full weight of the law. The agency’s success in this case underscores its determination to rid the country of the menace of narcotics.
