A fresh bid to arrest the suspects was launched four months ago, leading to a simultaneous raid on their locations on Saturday.

A notorious drug kingpin has been arrested in Abia state.

The drug kingpin identified as Onyeaghalachi Stephen Nwagwugwu was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who have been trailing him for 9 years.

The suspect’s elder brother, Eze Kaleb Stephen, who is also wanted, narrowly escaped during the overnight operation carried out simultaneously in the suspects’ two locations: Umuahia and Ntigha Okpuola community in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.

Spokesman for the agency, Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Tuesday, November 29; 

“Investigations show 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 and 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 organized 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.” 

A fresh bid to arrest the suspects was launched four months ago, leading to a simultaneous raid on their locations on Saturday.

The younger kidnap kingpin, Onyeaghalachi Stephen Nwagwugwu, who lives in Umuahia, the Abia State capital was successfully arrested, while his elder brother, Eze Kaleb Stephen, narrowly escaped when his Ntigha Okpuola community home was stormed by NDLEA operatives backed by men of the Nigerian Army.

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. Three exotic vehicles were recovered from their homes as efforts are ongoing to trace more of their bank accounts and properties.

The identified hotels include: Jahlove Hotel, Mbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North LGA; Noicyhl Luxury Hotel, Aba -Port-Harcourt expressway, Aba and Royal Cruise Fast Food, Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, all in Abia State.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of the agency involved in the operation as well as men of the military who provided support.