Joachin Mbonu, a notorious figure on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s wanted list, has been apprehended by NDLEA operatives in his luxurious mansion in Imo State. The arrest, which took place on July 5, also saw the capture of Mbonu’s associate.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Mbonu is linked to a major drug cartel responsible for manufacturing methamphetamine, locally known as ‘Mkpuru mmiri’. The syndicate operated across Imo and Rivers states, distributing large quantities of the psychoactive substance throughout the South-East, South-South, and beyond.
During the operation, authorities seized significant evidence implicating Mbonu and his cohorts. This included 419.99 grams of methamphetamine, 750 grams of iodine (a precursor chemical for meth), 500 grams of sodium bicarbonate (another precursor), electronic scales for weighing drugs, and a pump action gun with cartridges.
Following intensive surveillance, NDLEA’s special operations unit located Mbonu in his village residence. Further raids on properties linked to Mbonu in Imo and Rivers states yielded additional illicit substances and weaponry. Notably, a cache recovered from a hideout in Port Harcourt included processed sodium bicarbonate and further quantities of methamphetamine.
Babafemi disclosed that Mbonu had previously fled South Africa amid a drug investigation, honing his methamphetamine production skills before returning to Nigeria to establish covert labs in rural areas. As Mbonu remains in custody, NDLEA has earmarked two of his Imo State mansions for potential government forfeiture.
The arrest marks a significant victory for NDLEA in dismantling a prominent drug network, underscoring their commitment to combating drug trafficking and related crimes across Nigeria.
