The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested and repatriated a suspected drug kingpin, Festus Ibewuike, also known as Chidibest Ibewuike, who had been on the run for more than two years following the interception of 49.70kg of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Ibewuike was arrested at the airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on Sept. 2, 2026, following actionable intelligence and coordinated efforts between the NDLEA and the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) in Nigeria and Benin.
He was subsequently handed over to a team of NDLEA operatives deployed to Cotonou on Sept. 4 and brought back to Nigeria to face trial over his alleged involvement in the drug trafficking syndicate.
The development was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
