Lawyer, Family Arrested in Major Drug Bust: Inherited Operation From Late Father

Umuahia, Abia State – During a significant operation targeting drug-related criminal activities, the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Nigerian State Homeland Security collaborated to arrest a lawyer and her family, well-known for engaging in illegal drug trafficking. A group of individuals, consisting of a female lawyer, her mother, boyfriend, other family members, and their herbalist, were captured on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 23 Arochukwu Street, Umuahia, the capital of Abia State.

As per a statement issued by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, the family, under the late Jonathan Nweke’s leadership, had been heavily involved in the illegal drug business for a long time. The illegal operation, reportedly inherited from the deceased family head, included trafficking substances like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and precursor chemicals.

Babafemi stated that investigations uncovered that the family members had inherited the illegal drug trade from their deceased father, Jonathan Nweke.

Throughout the operation, authorities seized different amounts of illegal substances, such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, loud, cannabis sativa, and precursor chemicals, totaling 1.670kg. Furthermore, a sum of N578,400 was confiscated from the suspects upon their apprehension.

The individuals arrested consist of the female lawyer, Adaobi Nweke, aged 36 and her family consisting of her partner, Emeka Nkemefola, aged 36; her mother, Mrs. Ngozi Nweke, aged 65; Dike Okpara, aged 43, the family herbalist; Chukwudi Abel, aged 33, a relative; Amarachi Paul, aged 18, another family member; and their 22-year-old salesgirl, Blessing Jonathan.

As part of a wider crackdown on drug trafficking, the NDLEA also announced successful operations in various regions of the country. Joshua Henry, a 25-year-old Uber driver, was apprehended while trying to transport 26.2 grams of “Loud” in Keffi, Nasarawa state. In separate incidents, arrests were made in Kano, Ogun, and Kogi states, with significant quantities of cannabis seized.

NDLEA operatives in Abuja recently carried out a raid in the Kubwa area, leading to the apprehension of individuals found in possession of cannabis, diazepam, and tramadol tablets. Yet another individual was captured on the Abaji/Abuja highway, carrying 50.5kg of cannabis from Auchi, Edo state, to Paiko, Niger State.

The string of successful operations highlights the dedication of law enforcement agencies to reduce the spread of illegal drugs and break down the networks that support this threat. The individuals are currently in custody and will undergo legal proceedings for their suspected participation in drug trafficking.

Mimi Mefo Info