Lawyer, Boyfriend, Family Members Arrested By NDLEA

A 36-year-old female lawyer, Adaobi Nweke; her boyfriend, Emeka Nkemefola; her mother, Mrs Ngozi Nweke, have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs.

Others arrested with them are one; Dike Okpara, who is a herbalist to the family; Chukwudi Abel, a member of the family; Amarachi Paul, another member of the family; and their 22-year-old salesgirl, Blessing Jonathan.

The suspects, according to a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday, were arrested in a joint raid operation between the agency and men of the State Homeland Security at 23 Arochukwu Street, Umuahia, Abia State, around 11 pm on February 14, 2024.

The statement noted that members of the family had long been in the illicit drug business, which was passed on to them by their now-dead father, Jonathan Nweke.

Recovered from them as of the time of their arrest are various quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Loud, cannabis sativa, and precursor chemicals with a total weight of 1.670 kg, as well as a N578,400 monetary exhibit.

Also, operatives of the NDLEA intercepted a large consignment of Loud, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, concealed in giant loudspeakers tucked in a consolidated cargo imported from New York, United States of America.

According to Babafemi, when the NDLEA officers at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport
opened the giant wooden boxes dressed as sound speakers, the sound boxes were stuffed with 60 bags of the expensive but highly sought-after psychoactive substance, Loud, weighing 33.5 kilogrammes.

He said at least three suspects, Akeem Afeez (a freight agent);
Babalola Ayodeji Gboyega ( a logistics company manager); and the receiver of the consignment, Taiwo Olusegun Anuoluwapo, were arrested in follow-up operations between Thursday and Friday.

While Afeez was arrested at the airport, Gboyega was nabbed at his office on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, and Taiwo was traced to his residence at 13, Ayo Babatunde Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, where he was picked up on Friday.