National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested and repatriated Festus Ibewuike also known as Chidibest Ibewuike, a suspected drug kingpin linked to the seizure of 49.70 kilogrammes of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Ibewuike, 52, had allegedly evaded arrest for more than two years after he was declared wanted and charged in absentia by the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The NDLEA said in a statement issued by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, that the suspect was arrested at the airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on Sept. 2, following actionable intelligence.
According to the agency, Ibewuike relocated to Mozambique, where he operated a hotel business allegedly as a cover, while travelling between Mozambique and Nigeria through neighbouring Benin Republic to evade arrest.
The agency said his arrest followed the interception of 49.70kg of heroin concealed in cartons of metal-cutting machines at the Import Shed of the cargo terminal of MMIA in February 2024.
It said the seizure was the single largest heroin consignment ever recorded at the airport.
The NDLEA said the operation, which lasted 12 days, led to the arrest of key members of the drug syndicate, including Ibewuike’s wife, Confidence Ndidiamaka Ibewuike.
The agency said Confidence routinely received drug-laden parcels marked with the code “ND” on behalf of her husband.
It added that 107 bank accounts linked to the syndicate were frozen, while properties associated with the cartel were forfeited.
The NDLEA said the suspects were subsequently charged before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, in charge No. FHC/L/205C/2024.
It said three suspects — Adinnu Felix Chinedu, Osita Emmanuel Obinna and Uzochukwu Frankline — had so far been convicted and sentenced.
According to the agency, three others, namely Chidiebere Reginald Peter, Ibewuike Ndidiamaka Confidence and Igbokwuputa Onyinye Ireene, are still standing trial.
It said Ibewuike Festus, also known as Ibewuike Chidibest, Osita Chidozie Cyril and one Arinze were charged in absentia.
The agency said Ibewuike’s arrest was facilitated by cooperation between INTERPOL authorities in Nigeria and Benin Republic.
It said NDLEA operatives were deployed to Cotonou on Sept. 4 to take custody of the suspect before conveying him to Nigeria to face trial.
During preliminary interviews, the suspect reportedly confirmed his identity and disclosed that he had changed his name from Chidibest Ibewuike to Festus Ibewuike.
The agency said that on Sept. 5, Ibewuike was taken to its Central Exhibit Store in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he formally identified parcels of heroin bearing the “ND” code, which investigators established were linked to him.
The NDLEA further disclosed that Ibewuike had previously been associated with another drug-related case before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
It said the case, filed under charge No. FHC/L/203C/2013 and presided over by Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, involved the seizure of 40.255kg of methamphetamine.
The agency said the case involved one Chidi Ihedioha, who was subsequently convicted by the court in 2023.
Reacting to the development, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the agency’s efforts to track down fleeing drug kingpins.
Marwa said the arrest demonstrated the agency’s resolve to ensure that suspects involved in illicit drug trafficking were brought to justice regardless of how long they remained at large.
He commended the multinational cooperation that facilitated the arrest and transfer of the suspect, particularly the Nigerian and Beninese INTERPOL National Central Bureaux.
The NDLEA chairman urged fleeing suspects still at large to desist from believing that leaving Nigeria would place them beyond the reach of the law.
He assured that the agency would continue to pursue persons linked to illicit drug trafficking until they were brought to justice.
