The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested one Joachin Mbonu who has been on their wanted list.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, in a statement, said Mbonu was arrested by operatives of the agency in his village mansion in Imo state on July 5, 2024.
Babafemi said Mbonu, who was arrested along with his associates, belongs to a drug cartel behind the production of methamphetamine.
“A major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called ‘mkpuru mmiri’ 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 which has operational bases in Imo and Rivers state became a target of the NDLEA following intelligence indicating it is responsible for the distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine in the South East, South South and other parts of the country.
Babafemi revealed that during the operation, NDLEA operatives recovered 419.99 grams of methamphetamine, 750 grams of iodine, and a pump action gun with four cartridges among others.
He said operatives moved to another of Mbonu’s hideouts located at 11 Redemption Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers state where they recovered additional exhibits: 750 grams of processed sodium bicarbonate; 170 grams of plain sodium bicarbonate and 75 grams of meth.
“Another raid in the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Pedro Chinedu, currently at large, at Njaba LGA, 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.”
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.
The spokesperson 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.
