NDLEA nabs wanted drug baron in village mansion, recovers meth, precursors, guns

 • Raids Imo, Port Harcourt operational bases, nabs associate

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested the leader of an illicit drug syndicate, Joachin Chikaodi Mbonu, 42, and his associate in his mansion located at Umuomi village, Uzogba-Ezenomi autonomous community, Ikeduru Local Council of Imo State.

The arrest consequently brings down the major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of a deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine (popularly called ‘mkpuru mmiri’).

Spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development in a statement yesterday. He said the cartel with operational bases in Imo and Rivers states became a target of the agency, following intelligence indicating it was responsible for the distribution of substantial quantity of methamphetamine in the South East, South South, and other parts of the country.

He said: “After weeks of surveillance, officers of a special operations unit of the agency on Friday, July 5, tracked and traced the drug lord to his village mansion in Imo State where he was caught with a member of his cartel, Kenneth Chibuike Ofoegbu, 34. Also, different quantities of methamphetamine, its precursor chemicals, a pump action gun and cartridges were recovered.

“Exhibits recovered from the house include: 419.99 grammes of methamphetamine; 750 grammes of iodine, a precursor chemical for meth; 500 grammes of sodium bicarbonate, a precursor chemical for meth; and two electronic weighing scales.”

Babafemi added that the operatives moved swiftly to another of Mbonu’s hideout located at 11 Redemption Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where they recovered additional exhibits: 750 grammes of processed sodium bicarbonate; 170 grammes of plain sodium bicarbonate and 75 grammes of meth.

“Another raid in the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Pedro Chinedu, currently at large, at Njaba Local Council in Imo State, led to the recovery of another pump action gun with 25 cartridges, among other items. While the kingpin cools his heels in custody, two of his mansions in Imo State have been marked for possible forfeiture to the federal government.

“Mbonu 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 added.

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