Drug Baron, 2 Others Arrested As Narcotic Agency, NDLEA Intercepts Over N560 Million UK-Bound Drugs

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested Charles Chinedu Ezeh, a suspected drug lord and two others over a large consignment of methamphetamine intercepted at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Two other persons arrested were identified as a freight agent, Nwobodo Chidiebere and a female suspect, Chioma Lucy Akuta. This was made known in a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, the agency’s director of media and advocacy, on Sunday, in Abuja.

Babafemi noted that the consignment was concealed in powdered custard containers as part of a consolidated cargo going to London, United Kingdom. According to the statement, the illicit drug consignment weighing 30.10kg with a street value of N567 million was detected and seized by NDLEA operatives at the airport on Tuesday, May 16.

The statement reads in part, Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a large consignment of methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers as part of a consolidated cargo going to London, United Kingdom at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos. 

The illicit drug consignment weighing 30.10 kilograms with a street value of N567 million was detected and seized by NDLEA operatives at the airport on Tuesday 16th May. This was swiftly followed by a series of follow-up operations that led to the arrest of a freight agent, Nwobodo Chidiebere; a female suspect, Chioma Lucy Akuta and ultimately the drug lord behind the shipment, Charles Chinedu Ezeh, who was arrested at Sotel Suites, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos on Thursday, 18th May.  Ezeh claims he’s a businessman and deals in articles in Onitsha,

Anambra State but investigations reveal he lived with his wife and children in London until 10th December 2022 when he fled to Nigeria after his involvement in a drug-related offence in the UK. Though he claimed to have been living in hotels since his return to Nigeria last December, operatives were, however, able to locate his mansion at No. 1 Hawawu Abikan Street, Lekki, on Friday, 19th May, where a search was conducted and his travel and property documents among others were recovered.