Imo state: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called ‘mkpuru mmiri’.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The head of operation NDLEA, Babafemi in his statement said the leader of the drug cartel been arrested by the operational unit of NDLEA
Babafemi said that the cartel, with operational bases in Imo and Rivers states, became a target of the agency following intelligence reports indicating it was responsible for the distribution of a substantial quantity of methamphetamine.
“The suspect was arrested with a member of his gang ,Chibuike Ofoegbu, 34, with different quantities of methamphetamine, its precursor chemicals, a pump action gun and cartridges recovered.
Other Exhibits recovered by the operational unit of NDLEA from the village mansion include: 419.99 grams of methamphetamine; 750 grams of iodine, a precursor chemical for meth; and 500 grams of sodium bicarbonate, a precursor chemical for meth; two electronic weighing scales and a pump action gun with four cartridges,” said Babafemi.
Mr Babafemi said that the operatives moved swiftly to another of Mbonu’s hideout located at 11 Redemption Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers state. He said that additional exhibits: 750 grams of processed sodium bicarbonate; 170 grams of plain sodium bicarbonate and 75 grams of meth were recovered.
In another raid in the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Chinedu, now at large, at Njaba LGA, Imo , led to the recovery of another pump action gun with 25 cartridges and many other items.
“While the drug baron is now in their custody, two of his mansions in Imo state have been marked for possible forfeiture to the Federal Government.
“Mbonu who 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 said.
NDLEA chairman Retired Brig-Gen Buba Marwa commended the officers and men involved in the syndicate operations and ensuring the successful arrest of the drug cartels.
Mr Marwa stated that the manner the interdiction was carried out should send a strong signal to other cartels that there was no hiding place for them in any part of the country
