Crime
Wanted Drug Baron Arrested in Village Mansion as NDLEA Recovers Meth, Precursors, Guns …Raids Imo, Port Harcourt Operational Bases, Nabs Associate
By Our Correspondent
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a major drug cartel involved in the production and distribution of methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘mkpuru mmiri’.
The arrest of the syndicate leader, 42-year-old Joachin Chikaodi Mbonu, took place in his mansion located in Umuomi village, Uzogba-Ezenomi autonomous community, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State.
This was revealed in a release signed by Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The cartel, with operational bases in Imo and Rivers states, became a target of the Agency following intelligence that indicated its involvement in the distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine across the South East, South South, and other parts of Nigeria.
He was apprehended alongside a member of his cartel, 34-year-old Kenneth Chibuike Ofoegbu. During the raid, officers recovered various quantities of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals, a pump action gun, and cartridges.
The exhibits recovered from Mbonu’s house included: 419.99 grams of methamphetamine, 750 grams of iodine (a precursor chemical for meth), 500 grams of sodium bicarbonate (another precursor chemical for meth), two electronic weighing scales, and a pump action gun with four cartridges.
The operatives then swiftly 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 methamphetamine.
Further raids on the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Pedro Chinedu, who is currently at large, in Njaba LGA, Imo State, led to the recovery of another pump action gun with 25 cartridges, among other items. As Mbonu remains in custody, two of his mansions in Imo State have been marked for possible forfeiture to the federal government.
Mbonu, who had previously escaped from South Africa after coming under investigation for drug dealings, mastered the art of cooking methamphetamine and continued his criminal activities upon returning to Nigeria. He set up clandestine laboratories in remote villages to avoid detection.
Reacting to the successful dismantling of the meth syndicate, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men involved in the multi-pronged operation.
He stated that the manner in which the interdiction was carried out should send a strong signal to other drug cartels that there is no hiding place for them in any part of the country.
