Ngene Onyedikachi, a drug lord who recruited fake couples smugglers, was arrested by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency agents on August 1, 2023, in Lagos, while hard drugs in various forms were seized nationwide in separate operations.
On August 6, 2023, The PUNCH had claimed that NDLEA agents had arrested the fictitious couple Onyebuchi and Nonyelum for ingesting 184 wraps of cocaine totaling 3.322 kg, with 100 grammes of the narcotic also hidden in the woman’s private area.
Onyedikachi was arrested at his Akoka, Yaba apartment by NDLEA agents on Friday, according to a statement from the organization’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
The statement reads, “The NDLEA operatives on Friday, August 25, 2023, succeeded in arresting a drug kingpin, Ngene Onyedikachi, who recruited the fake couple, Ilonzeh Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Nonyelum arrested for ingesting 1.822kg and 1.50kg of Cocaine respectively at the Lagos airport on August 1 while on their way to India.
“The kingpin was picked at his residence located at 28, Afolabi Brown Street, Akoka, Yaba, after intensive surveillance that lasted 25 days.”
“During his interview, Onyedikachi confessed that the two suspects: Ilonzeh Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Nonyelum were introduced to him by another member of his syndicate, whom he claimed he met at Zion Church in the Cele area of Lagos. He explained that the drug was sourced from Guinea Conakry.
“The suspect revealed that when he got information about the arrest of the fake couple, he threw away his old mobile phone along with the SIM cards to avoid being traced, adding that he became relaxed and refused to leave his house because the two couriers do not know his house since they have only met twice at different locations.
“He said he was living in India before he returned to Nigeria in 2022 after the Indian authorities discovered that he was using Ivory Coast International passport. A blue Acura Legend car was part of items recovered from his home during his arrest.”