NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Trafficking Kingpin After 13 Years Hunting
A 13-year manhunt has ended with the arrest of a wanted drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, after years of evading prosecution over major cocaine and heroin shipments.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, confirmed that its operatives have taken Chidiebere into custody following fresh intelligence and enforcement actions tied to significant narcotics seizures at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Details of the arrest were contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja. PulseNets learnt that the suspect had been on the run since 2013 after allegedly jumping bail in a cocaine trafficking case before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Babafemi explained that Chidiebere was first apprehended in 2013 in connection with the importation of cocaine into Nigeria and subsequently arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, under charge number FHC/L/187c/2923.
“He however jumped bail and went into hiding after the trial judge granted him bail in 2013 and has since remained at large.”
Further investigations in February 2024 reportedly linked him to the importation of 49.70 kilograms of heroin from South Africa. PulseNets obtained that the consignment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Lagos airport, triggering intensified surveillance.
“In February 2024, his name featured prominently as one of the masterminds of the shipment of 49.70 kilograms heroin imported from South Africa following the interception of the consignment by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Lagos airport.”
A follow-up enforcement operation on 19 February 2024 targeted Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites at No. 16/18 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos. PulseNets reported that an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin was recovered from one of the hotel’s guests, identified as Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod. The development reportedly forced Chidiebere underground once again.
“The agency however secured the interim forfeiture of his hotel and blocked all bank accounts traced to him since 2024,” Babafemi stated.
According to the agency, sustained financial restrictions and operational pressure eventually led to his surrender.
“Following these developments, Chidiebere could no longer sustain himself in hiding, prompting his surrender to the agency on 13th February 2026 and has since been taken into custody to face his pending charges for which he jumped bail in 2013 and fresh charges based on the 2024 heroin consignments linked to him.”
Meanwhile, intensified anti-narcotics operations across multiple states resulted in significant seizures and arrests.
In Imo State, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 25 February 2026 dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, within Njaba Local Government Area. PulseNets learnt that 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine were recovered alongside precursor chemicals and production equipment.
At the Seme border in the Badagry area of Lagos, officers intercepted a Togolese national, Hadiza Musa, on Friday at the departure tarmac after 5,000 pills of tramadol were discovered concealed in her luggage. On the same day, operatives recovered 1,040 kilograms of skunk from an uncompleted building at Akodo village, Seaside Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki corridor of Lagos.
In Kano State, a 45-year-old suspect, Ashiru Bala, was arrested at Lambu in Tafa LGA on Wednesday, 25 February, with 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in a Volkswagen Golf vehicle bearing registration number CA 911 ABC.
Similarly, Yahaya Usaini, 21, was apprehended on Friday, 27 February, along the Zaria-Dutsinma road in Katsina State while transporting 87.4 kilograms of skunk in a Toyota Hiace bus marked KUJ 544 RL.
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives arrested Adewale Fatunmise, 40, and Adebisi Korede, 25, on Monday, 23 February, following the seizure of 18.085 kilograms of skunk at Aregbe area of Osogbo.
Acting on credible intelligence in Taraba State, officers on Thursday, 26 February intercepted a Mercedes-Benz vehicle marked KWL-607DC along the Bali–Suntai road. PulseNets obtained that no fewer than 637,600 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5, were recovered while the consignment was en route to Baruwa in Gashaka LGA.
A separate interdiction at Lankaviri Yorro led to the arrest of Musa Usman, 27, and the seizure of 126.022 kilograms of skunk.
In the Federal Capital Territory, 499.2 kilograms of skunk were recovered at the Dei-Dei area on Wednesday, 25 February. In Borno State, Bulama Modu, 24, was intercepted in a commercial vehicle conveying 7,000 capsules of tramadol along the Bama-Konduga road on Tuesday, 24 February.
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Commending officers across the MMIA, Seme, Lagos, Imo, Borno, Kano, Katsina, Taraba, Osun and FCT Commands, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised their sustained enforcement drive and balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction nationwide.
Reacting to the arrest of Chidiebere after more than a decade in hiding, Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling narcotics networks and ensuring accountability.
“I commend our officers and men for their persistence and professionalism in this operation.”
