Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has seized a 30kg consignment of methamphetamine valued at ₦567 million that was to be shipped to the UK through the main airport in Lagos.

The agency in a statement said the methamphetamine consignment was concealed in powdered custard containers as part of a consolidated cargo going to London, United Kingdom.

Femi Babafemi, the spokesman for the anti-narcotic agency, said the arrest followed by a series of follow-up operations that led to the arrest of a freight agent, Nwobodo Chidiebere, a female suspect, Chioma Lucy Akuta, and ultimately the drug lord behind the shipment, Charles Chinedu Ezeh, who has since been arrested.

The agency also seized Mr Eze’s property in the affluent Lekki neighbourhood after his personal identification documents were discovered during a search.

The NDLEA said, “series of follow-up operations” led to the arrest of a freight agent, Nwobodo Chidiebere; a female suspect, Chioma Lucy Akuta and the ultimate drug lord behind the shipment, Charles Chinedu Ezeh, who was arrested on May 18, at Sotel Suites, Amuwo Odofin in Lagos.

“Ezeh claims he is a businessman and deals in articles in Onitsha, Anambra state but investigations reveal he lived with his wife and children in London until 10th December 2022, when he fled to Nigeria after his involvement in a drug-related offence in the UK.

“Though he claimed to have been living in hotels since his return to Nigeria last December, operatives were, however, able to locate his mansion at No. 1 Hawawu Abikan Street, Lekki, on Friday 19th May, where a search was conducted and his travel and property documents among others were recovered.”

The primary suspect is said to have fled the UK in December 2022 after being accused of a drug-related offense.

The agency also arrested some suspects and made seizures of illegal substances in Oyo, Kaduna, Edo, Anambra, Kwara, Jigawa and Kano states.

Nigeria anti-narcotics agency has since pledged its commitment to make the country unbearable for drugs peddlers until they bow out of the illegal business.