Notorious drug kingpin Ibrahim Bendel, who escaped prison custody seven years ago, has been apprehended by NDLEA operatives during a raid at his hideout in Filin Dabo, Dei-Dei area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
In a daring operation on 5th November 2023, Bendel was arrested with 56.9kgs of cannabis sativa and 42.7 grams of Diazepam.
This arrest comes after a relentless manhunt and previous raids, showcasing the agency’s commitment to curbing illicit drug activities.
Back on 27th November 2014, Bendel was initially arrested with 385.1kgs of cannabis sativa, leading to his prosecution, conviction, and a seven-and-a-half-year sentence on 22nd July 2015.
Shockingly, he managed to escape from Kuje prison on 16th May 2016, adding another layer to his criminal history.
Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives raided Bendel’s warehouse on 20th November 2022, recovering a staggering 1,278kgs of cannabis. Although Bendel was not present, his warehouse manager, 55-year-old Ghanaian Richard Forson Gordon, faced justice with a two-year jail term.
In a subsequent raid on 13th November, NDLEA operatives arrested Yusufa Ibrahim with 75.3kgs of cannabis in the same area.
Simultaneously, a massive operation in Efon Alaye, Ekiti State, led to the destruction of 52,500 kilograms of cannabis sativa, with 15 suspects apprehended.
The crackdown extended to Ondo, where five individuals, including another wanted drug kingpin, Christopher Onyebuchi, were arrested, and 1,945 kilograms of cannabis were seized.
Additional operations in Sokoto, Edo, Benue, Ogun, Lagos, and Imo resulted in significant drug recoveries, emphasizing the agency’s wide-reaching efforts.
Commending the relentless efforts of NDLEA officers across various commands, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged heightened offensive actions against drug cartels, especially as the yuletide season approaches.
