By Evelyn Usman

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has bust an international drug cartel, with the seizure of 51.90 kilogrammes of heroine, described as the largest in the history of the anti-narcotic agency.

Vanguard gatherred that the street value of the seized heroine is N10.4 billion at £100,000 per kilogramme.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd), who made the disclosure while briefing journalists, yesterday, at the Lagos Airport Command, Ikeja, said four members of the cartel, including six mules had been arrested.

During investigation, he said members of the drug cartel were discovered to be drawn from Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe and America.

The suspected kingpin of the syndicate in Nigeria, whose identity he gave as Reginald Chidiebere, was traced to his apartment in Ago Palace in Okota area of Lagos.

He said so far, 107 bank accounts associated with 14 members of the cartel, as well as N119.6 million found in some traced bank accounts had been frozen.

Also, Golden Platinum Hotel and Suite, located on Hope Estate, Ago Palace, owned by Chidiebere had been sealed, according to Marwa.

He said a mansion linked to the suspected head of the syndicate in Nigeria and another one linked to the head of the syndicate in Mozambique, Festus Ibewuike, also located in Ago Palace area, had been marked for forfeiture to the Federal Government.

Explaining how the arrest was made, he said: “It started on February 10, 2024, when NDLEA operatives of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command intercepted a suspicious package at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal.

“The consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines. Each carton was stocked with three blocks of high-grade heroin. In total, we recovered 45 blocks of the illicit substance with a total weight of 49.70kg.

“After the discovery, we were methodical and meticulous in our investigations. We started with the arrest of the freight agent whose name is Olowolagba Babatunde. It turned out that he was hired for clearing services by Mattpee Logistics, a company operated by one Mr. Kola, resident in South Africa.

“Next, we conducted a follow up operation at the company’s warehouse in the Shogunle area of Oshodi, Lagos, and arrested the warehouse manager, whose name is Ajayi Moses.

“Thereafter, we set up an ambush for the expected receiver of the consignment, who was duly arrested when he showed up for collection.”