Suspected Drug Baroness, 4 Kingpins Arrested As NDLEA Busts 3 Lagos Syndicates

Suspected drug baroness, Faith Ebele Nwankwo

Eko Hot Blog reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken down three major illicit drug syndicates in intelligence-led operations across parts of Lagos state.

According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, the operations led to the arrest of a baroness and four other kingpins with multi-billion naira worth of Cocaine, Opioids and Loud recovered from their hideouts.

“A female head of one of the syndicates, Faith Ebele Nwankwo was arrested on Wednesday 9th August at her residence, House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac area of Lagos shortly after she returned from a warehouse at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin where she loaded eight cartons of tramadol 225mg into an unmarked white Honda Pilot SUV,” Babafemi said.

Suspected drug baroness, Faith Ebele Nwankwo

He revealed that a search of the suspect’s residence and the warehouse led to the recovery of 2.750 million pills of Tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg packed in 39 cartons weighing 1,916 kilograms.

The drugs and the SUV were recovered while the suspect was taken into custody, the NDLEA spokesperson further disclosed.

In another operation targeted at a group of transnational syndicate involved in importation, exportation, distribution, and dealing in Cocaine and Canadian Loud, Babafemi revealed that operatives of the same Special Unit of the NDLEA on Friday 4th August tracked the drug syndicate to Atlantic Nominee Estate in Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos where a blue Toyota Highlander SUV was loaded with 8.49kg of cocaine and 10.3kg Canadian Loud for distribution by the duo of Nurama Chinemelum Precious, 32, and Adelakun Ilelabayo Oluade, 55.

Drug suspects Nurama Chinemelum Precious, 32, and Adelakun Ilelabayo Oluade, 55.

“A follow-up operation at the residence of Chinemelum at House 7, Road 7, Lagra estate, Eti-Osa, Lagos led to the recovery of additional 18 blocks of Loud weighing 18.5kg,” the NDLEA spokesperson stated.

“The following day, Saturday 5th August, operatives of the Special Unit went after another syndicate involved in importation, distribution and diversion of ephedrine hydrochloride, a precursor chemical used for the production of methamphetamine, following intelligence that members of the cartel were planning to divert 25 kilograms of the substance.

“Two members of the syndicate: Udeh Vincent Ogbonna, 53, and Okonkwo Ifeanyi Uzozie, 50, were arrested at a commercial bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos where they were attempting to send the concealed substance to the South East. A body search conducted on the two suspects led to the recovery of Three Thousand ($3,000) US Dollars found on Udeh Vincent Ogbonna.”

Drug suspects Udeh Vincent Ogbonna and Okonkwo Ifeanyi Uzozie

In operations across four other states of Ogun, Ondo, Edo and Nasarawa, NDLEA also operatives recovered over 13,391.8 kilograms of skunk.

1,955kgs of skunk packed in 139 jumbo bags recovered from the warehouse in Ado Odo Ota area of Ogun State

“No fewer than 1,955kgs of the illicit substance packed in 139 jumbo bags and stored in the warehouse of a wanted notorious drug dealer, Lekan Jimoh (aka Konmo Konmo) in Ado Odo Ota area of Ogun State were recovered in the early hours of Saturday 12th August in collaboration with officers and men of the Nigerian Army,” Babafemi added.

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Philip Ibitoye

Philip Ibitoye is a journalist who boasts more than five years of experience reporting the news. He is an Editor at Eko Hot Blog.