NDLEA Arrests Fugitive Over 49.7kg Heroin Shipment

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a suspected drug-trafficking kingpin who had been wanted in connection with a 49.70kg heroin shipment intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos in 2024. The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Festus Ibewuike, was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, following intelligence-led efforts to locate him.

According to the NDLEA, Ibewuike had been moving between countries to evade authorities and eventually relocated to Mozambique, where he reportedly operated a hotel business. Nigerian and Beninese authorities, working through their respective INTERPOL National Central Bureaus, facilitated his return to Nigeria after his arrest on September 2, 2026.

The original investigation began after NDLEA operatives intercepted the heroin consignment at the Lagos airport in February 2024. The agency said the shipment was concealed inside cartons of metal-cutting machines, leading investigators to uncover an alleged trafficking network operating across several countries.

The investigation has already resulted in convictions for some individuals connected to the case, while other suspects remain before the courts. The NDLEA said Ibewuike was charged in absentia and later confirmed his identity during preliminary interviews after his return to Nigeria.

NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in the agency’s efforts to track down suspects who flee the country after alleged involvement in drug trafficking. The agency said the latest development demonstrates continued cooperation between Nigerian and international law-enforcement authorities in pursuing outstanding suspects.