NDLEA NABS EX-CONVICT LINKED TO COCAINE SHIPMENT BOUND FOR SAUDI ARABIA

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 34-year-old suspected drug trafficker, Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu, who allegedly disguised himself as a herbal tea businessman while coordinating illicit drug shipments. His arrest followed the interception of 1.2kg of cocaine destined for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at a courier company in Lagos on July 31, 2026.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said Ebubechukwu was arrested during a sting operation at Article Market, opposite Trade Fair Market in the Ojo area of Lagos, on September 4. Investigators reportedly linked him to the intercepted cocaine shipment, which was concealed inside phone chargers. The suspect allegedly admitted to masterminding previous drug consignments and said he discarded his SIM card after learning that the latest shipment had been intercepted.

The agency said Ebubechukwu was not new to drug trafficking investigations. According to the NDLEA, he was first arrested in 2011 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after allegedly ingesting 900 grammes of cocaine and 130 grammes of heroin while attempting to travel to Austria. He was prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to five years in prison before reportedly changing his name and returning to the illicit trade.

A search of his residence on Yemishola Street, Ejigbo, Lagos, reportedly led to the recovery of phone chargers similar to those used to conceal the intercepted cocaine. The NDLEA said the internal components of the chargers had been removed to create compartments for drugs, further strengthening the link between the suspect and the shipment under investigation.

The arrest was part of a wider NDLEA crackdown on drug trafficking operations across several states. The agency also reported seizures involving cannabis, tramadol, methamphetamine and other illicit substances during coordinated operations, underscoring its continued efforts to disrupt local and international drug trafficking networks.