A drug baron on the wanted list of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, identified as Joachin Mbonu, has been arrested.

Mbonu was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA in his village mansion in Imo State on July 5.

A statement on Tuesday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said Mbonu was arrested along with his associate.

He stated that Mbonu belongs to a drug cartel behind the production of methamphetamine.
Babafemi said, “A major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called ‘meth’ has been taken down by operatives of the NDLEA following the arrest of the leader of the syndicate, 42-year-old Joachin Chikaodi Mbonu and his associate in his mansion tucked in his Umuomi village, Uzogba-Ezenomi autonomous community, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.”

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 quantities of methamphetamine in the South-East, South-South and other parts of the country.

During the operation, Babafemi said operatives recovered 419.99 grams of methamphetamine, 750 grams of iodine, and a pump action gun with four cartridges, among others.

Babafemi stated that 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.

He added that upon his return to Nigeria, he continued the criminal trade by setting up clandestine laboratories in remote villages to shield his nefarious activities.

Last updated on September 13th, 2024 at 09:15 pm