Crime
NDLEA Smashes Major Drug Cartel…Arrests Leader in Village Mansion in Imo
NDLEA Smashes Major Drug Cartel
…Arrests Leader in Village Mansion in Imo
By: Michael Mike
A major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called ‘mkpuru mmiri’ has been smashed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as the leader of the syndicate 42-year-old Chikaodi Mbonu is arrested with his associate in his mansion tucked in his Umuomi village, Uzogba-Ezenomi autonomous community, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Tuesday said the cartel with operational bases in Imo and Rivers state became a target of the NDLEA following intelligence indicating it is responsible for the distribution of substantial quantity of methamphetamine in South East, South South and other parts of the country.
Babafemi said after weeks of surveillance, officers of a special operations unit of the agency last Friday, tracked and traced the drug lord to his village mansion in Imo state where he was caught with a member of his cartel, Chibuike Ofoegbu, 34, with different quantities of methamphetamine, its precursor chemicals, a pump action gun and cartridges.
Babafemi while disclosing the exhibits recovered from the house to include: 419.99 grammes of methamphetamine; 750 grammes of iodine, a precursor chemical for meth; 500 grammes of sodium bicarbonate, a precursor chemical for meth; two electronic weighing scales and a pump action gun with four cartridges, noted that the operatives moved swiftly to another of Mbonu’s hideout located at 11 Redemption Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers state where they recovered additional exhibits: 750 grammes of processed sodium bicarbonate; 170 grammes of plain sodium bicarbonate and 75 grammes of meth.
The spokesman said another raid in the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Chinedu, currently at large, at Njaba local government area, Imo state, led to the recovery of another pump action gun with 25 cartridges, among other items.
He said: “While the kingpin cools his heels in custody, two of his mansions in Imo state have been marked for possible forfeiture to the federal government.”
Babafemi said Mbonu had escaped from South Africa where he lived for years and mastered the art of cooking methamphetamine after he came under investigation for drug dealings, adding that upon his return to Nigeria, he continued the criminal trade by setting up clandestine laboratories in remote villages to shield his nefarious activities.
Meanwhile, while reacting to the successful taking down of the meth syndicate, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men involved in the multi-pronged operation, stating that the manner the interdiction was carried out should send a strong signal to other cartels that there’s no hiding place for them in any part of the country.
NDLEA Smashes Major Drug Cartel
…Arrests Leader in Village Mansion in Imo
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 16 Brigade Garrison operating under the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have intercepted a vehicle conveying about 400 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Security sources said the interception occurred at about 3:10 p.m. on May 12, 2026, along the Oruma–Kolocreek road during ongoing anti-illegal bunkering operations in the area.
According to the sources, the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the troops approaching the area.
The vehicle and the illegally refined petroleum products were subsequently handled in accordance with operational directives guiding Operation Delta Safe activities.
The military has sustained operations across the Niger Delta to curb crude oil theft, illegal refining and related economic sabotage threatening the nation’s oil infrastructure.
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
Troops Arrest Two Suspects Over Alleged Ammunition Supply to Terrorists in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 2 Operation HADIN KAI have arrested two additional suspects in Damaturu, Yobe State, over alleged involvement in the supply of ammunition to terrorists operating in the North-East.
Security sources said the arrests were made at about 12:05 p.m. on May 11, 2026, following intelligence obtained through communication intercepts linked to an earlier arrest of a repentant member of ISWAP.
The suspects were apprehended in Damaturu town, headquarters of Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Preliminary investigation reportedly revealed that one of the suspects had been assigned to collect ammunition from the second suspect for onward delivery to a terrorist commander.
Military sources disclosed that the suspects are currently in custody while efforts are ongoing to track down the alleged terrorist commander and recover the ammunition intended for delivery.
The development is part of ongoing counterterrorism and intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting logistics and supply networks supporting insurgent activities in the North-East.
Troops Arrest Two Suspects Over Alleged Ammunition Supply to Terrorists in Yobe
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorists’ Family Member in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State have intercepted a woman suspected to be linked to members of ISWAP during a foot patrol operation.
Security sources said the suspect was apprehended at about 10:25 a.m. on May 12, 2026, while troops were conducting routine patrol activities within the area.
Items reportedly recovered from the suspect included a detergent, a washing soap, a torchlight and five seasoning cubes.
During preliminary interrogation, the woman allegedly stated that she was travelling from Gezuwa to reunite with four of her children, who are suspected to be members of the terrorist groups.
The suspect is currently in military custody pending further investigation and necessary action by security authorities.
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorists’ Family Member in Borno
Troops Neutralise Two Terrorists in Night Ambush Operation in Borno
Troops Arrest Three Suspected Cattle Rustlers in Borno
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
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