A drug kingpin in Abia State, Onyeaghalachi Stephen Nwagwugwu, declared wanted nine years ago, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Onyeaghalachi is one of the two brothers who allegedly served as sources illicit drug supplies in the South-Eastern and South-Southern parts of the country.
The hotels, mansions, bank accounts linked to the two drug kingpins were sealed off by the NDLEA, just as exotic vehicles were recovered from them.
The NDLEA, in a release by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stated that the elder brother, Eze Kaleb Stephen, who is also wanted, narrowly escaped during an overnight operation carried out simultaneously in their two locations.
The two locations, Babafemi stated are Umuahia and Ntigha Okpuola communities in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.
He stated that the two notorious brothers began a career in the illicit drug business since the late 90s when they started as pocket dealers before they later established smoking joints/bunks in their community, Ntigha Okpuola.
The two drug kingpins, Babafemi added, subsequently grew to become barons, owning hotels, houses in choice areas of Abia, Rivers and Imo states, with exotic cars in their homes.
“The NDLEA has been on their trail since 2013 when they organised a mob attack on some of the agency’s operatives who attempted to apprehend them during a raid. At least, one of the officers attacked then is still bedridden till date.
“The two drug lords equally own armed militia guarding their houses and drug stores, where they deal in assorted illicit substances like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine (mpuru-miri), loud/arizona and all sorts.
“Fresh bid to bring the duo to book and end their criminal trade was launched four months ago, leading to a simultaneous raid operation on their locations on Saturday, 26 November, 2022,” he added.
Babafemi stated that the younger brother, Onyeaghalachi Stephen Nwagwugwu, who lives in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, was successfully arrested.
The elder brother, Eze Kaleb Stephen, narrowly escaped when his Ntigha Okpuola community home was stormed by operatives backed by men of the Nigerian Army, he added.
“In the course of the operation, one of their militiamen, Eberechi Kingsley Monday, was also arrested.
“During the raid, quantities of cocaine and variants of cannabis were recovered from the two houses while the agency has so far sealed two hotels, one eatery, two mansions linked to them and recovered three exotic vehicles from their homes as efforts are ongoing to trace more of their bank accounts and properties,” Babafemi stated.
He listed the hotels belonging to the two drug kingpins as including Jahlove Hotel, Mbawsi; Noicyhl Luxury Hotel, Aba-Port-Harcourt Expressway, Aba and Royal Cruise Fast Food, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, all in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.
Reacting to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), CON, OFR, commended the officers and men of the agency involved in the operation as well as men of the military who supported them for their professionalism.
He said “it is in the interest of the fleeing baron to turn himself in before the agency smoke him out because there would be no hiding place for him.”
