The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Reginald Peter Chidiebere, a notorious drug kingpin who had been on the run for 13 years.
The arrest came following the seizure of large consignments of cocaine and heroin linked to Chidiebere by NDLEA operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The agency confirmed that the operation involved meticulous intelligence gathering and coordination with airport security officials.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing the significance of the arrest in the agency’s ongoing fight against drug trafficking. “This is a major breakthrough in our efforts to dismantle organized drug networks in Nigeria,” Babafemi said.
Chidiebere had been evading law enforcement for over a decade, making him one of the most wanted figures in the country’s drug enforcement records. His capture is expected to yield further leads into his criminal network, which NDLEA operatives believe spans both domestic and international channels.
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Authorities said the arrest reinforces NDLEA’s commitment to tackling drug-related crimes and ensuring that individuals involved in large-scale trafficking face justice. The agency also called on the public to continue providing intelligence that can aid in dismantling illicit drug operations nationwide.
Chidiebere is currently in NDLEA custody, and investigators are working to trace his associates and recover additional evidence to strengthen ongoing prosecutions against him and his network.
