The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected drug kingpin, Festus Ibewuike, popularly known as Chidibest, after more than two years of evading arrest over his alleged involvement in a major heroin trafficking operation.
Ibewuike was declared wanted following the seizure of 49.70 kilogrammes of heroin linked to a drug trafficking network. According to the NDLEA, the suspect remained outside the country for over two years in an attempt to escape arrest.
The agency said his arrest followed sustained efforts by its operatives to track him down after he fled Nigeria.
The development was disclosed by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who said the agency eventually succeeded in locating and apprehending the suspect after an extended manhunt.
Ibewuike is alleged to have played a leading role in the trafficking operation involving the large consignment of heroin. The seizure had prompted an investigation aimed at identifying those behind the shipment and dismantling the network responsible for its movement.
Following his arrest, the suspect was brought back to Nigeria to face investigation and possible prosecution over the alleged offence.
The NDLEA has intensified its efforts in recent years to disrupt major drug trafficking networks, particularly those involved in the importation and distribution of cocaine, heroin and other illicit substances.
The agency has also continued to target individuals believed to operate behind the scenes by financing, coordinating or facilitating international drug movements.
The arrest of Ibewuike therefore represents a significant development in the investigation into the 49.70kg heroin seizure, especially after the suspect had remained out of the agency’s reach for more than two years.
The NDLEA has repeatedly maintained that fleeing the country would not necessarily enable wanted suspects to escape justice, as its investigations increasingly involve international cooperation and intelligence gathering.
The agency said its operatives would continue to pursue individuals linked to major drug trafficking operations, while efforts would also be sustained to identify other members of criminal networks associated with the seized consignment.
The latest arrest comes amid a broader campaign by the NDLEA against the movement of illicit drugs across Nigeria and international borders. The agency has in recent months announced several arrests and significant drug seizures in different parts of the country.
In the present case, the arrest ends a lengthy period during which Ibewuike was allegedly moving between countries to avoid being apprehended.
The suspect is expected to remain in the custody of the authorities as investigations continue into his alleged role in the heroin trafficking operation.
The NDLEA’s case against him remains an allegation until established in court.
