**Date**: August 27, 2023
*Abuja, Nigeria*:
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a drug kingpin, Ngene Onyedikachi, believed to be responsible for recruiting the fake couple smugglers apprehended in Lagos on August 1, 2023. The fake couple, Onyebuchi and Nonyelum, were arrested for ingesting cocaine. The NDLEA also conducted various operations across the country, resulting in the seizure of hard drugs.
On August 1, 2023, the NDLEA arrested the fake couple, Onyebuchi and Nonyelum, for ingesting 184 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.322kg, with an additional 100 grams of the drug concealed in the woman’s private part.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that Onyedikachi was apprehended at his residence in Akoka, Yaba, by NDLEA operatives on Friday.
According to Babafemi, “The NDLEA operatives on Friday, August 25, 2023, succeeded in arresting a drug kingpin, Ngene Onyedikachi, who recruited the fake couple, Ilonzeh Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Nonyelum, arrested for ingesting 1.822kg and 1.50kg of cocaine, respectively, at the Lagos airport on August 1 while on their way to India. The kingpin was picked at his residence located at 28, Afolabi Brown Street, Akoka, Yaba, after intensive surveillance that lasted 25 days.”
Onyedikachi reportedly confessed that he was introduced to the fake couple by another member of his drug syndicate, whom he met in a Lagos church. He also revealed that the drugs were sourced from Guinea Conakry.
After the arrest of the fake couple, Onyedikachi disposed of his old mobile phone and SIM cards to avoid being traced. He refused to leave his house, believing that the two couriers did not know his home address since they had only met twice at different locations.
The suspect had lived in India but returned to Nigeria in 2022 after Indian authorities discovered that he was using an Ivory Coast international passport. During his arrest, a blue Acura Legend car was among the items recovered from his home.
Additionally, the NDLEA arrested other suspects in various raids across the country. Peter Iwebema was apprehended in the Ikorodu area of Lagos for possessing cannabis sativa, while others were arrested at the Tincan port command. Suleiman Oba, who holds a South African passport, was arrested while attempting to board a Rwanda Air flight to South Africa, carrying boxes loaded with ephedrine concealed in semovita packs. Nafiu Arzika, Jamilu Aminu, and Ismaila Razak were also arrested in Sokoto and Oyo states with different forms of hard drugs, including skunk and methamphetamine.
