NDLEA Arrests Ex-Convict Posing as Herbal Tea Dealer
Agency Arrests 34-Year-Old Suspect in Lagos as Investigation Links Him to Alleged International Drug Trafficking Activities
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 34-year-old man accused of posing as an herbal tea businessman while allegedly operating within an illicit drug trafficking network. The suspect, identified as Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu, was arrested in the Ojo area of Lagos during an operation on September 4, 2026.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect came under investigation after authorities intercepted a cocaine shipment in Lagos in July that was allegedly destined for Saudi Arabia. Investigators said the development led them to track Ebubechukwu, who was subsequently arrested during what the agency described as a sting operation.
The agency also said the suspect had previously been convicted in connection with drug trafficking. NDLEA officials alleged that he had been arrested in 2011, prosecuted and sentenced to five years in prison before later returning to illicit activities. The latest investigation is expected to establish the full extent of his alleged involvement.
The arrest was part of a wider series of operations announced by the NDLEA across several states. The agency reported additional seizures and arrests involving controlled substances during the period, reflecting its continuing efforts to disrupt trafficking networks and prevent illegal drugs from entering communities.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to maintain an intelligence-led approach to drug enforcement. The agency also warned that suspected traffickers attempting to conceal their activities behind legitimate businesses or identities would continue to face investigation and prosecution.
