Onyeaghalachi Stephen, one of two brothers who the anti-narcotics agency believed were major sources of illicit drug supplies in the South-East and South-South regions of the country, has been detained, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which announced the arrest on Monday.
Before the long arm of the law finally caught up with the culprit, the agency said it had been chasing after him for nine years.
However, during the nocturnal operation that was conducted simultaneously at their two locations in Umuahia and Ntigha Okpuola towns in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State, Onyeaghalachi’s elder brother, Eze Stephen, who is also sought, narrowly escaped.
In a statement, the agency’s director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that during the raid, amounts of cocaine and different cannabis strains were found in the two homes. She also said that the agency had sealed two hotels, one restaurant, two mansions connected to them, and recovered three exotic vehicles from their homes, and that investigations were still ongoing to find their bank accounts and other assets.
According to the statement, the hotels include Jahlove Hotel in Mbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Noicyhl Luxury Hotel on the Aba-Port-Harcourt Expressway in Aba, and Royal Cruise Fast Food on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Isiala Ngwa North LGA. All of these locations are in the state of Abia.
The agency’s chairman urged all Nigerians to help clear the nation of illegal narcotics while also praising the officers and agency personnel who participated in the operation and the military personnel who helped them.
