- Safiu Kehinde
A wanted notorious drug kingpin, Reginald Chidiebere, has surrendered to he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after 13 years of hiding following the seizure of large consignments of cocaine and heroin linked to him at the Murtala Muhammed International (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.
Chidiebere was first arrested in 2013 over the shipment of cocaine into Nigeria and was subsequently arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court Lagos in charge no. FHC/L/187c/2923.
As contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Chidiebere jumped bail and went into hiding after the trial judge granted him bail in 2013.
He had since remained at large until February 2024 when his name featured prominently as one of the masterminds of the shipment of 49.70 kilograms heroin imported from South Africa following the interception of the consignment by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Lagos airport.
A follow-up operation was carried out on 19th February 2024 at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites, located at No. 16/18 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.
According to Babafemi, an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin was recovered from one of his guests, Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod.
Chidiebere allegedly went underground as the NDLEA secured the interim forfeiture of his hotel and blocked all bank accounts traced to him since 2024.
Following these developments, Chidiebere could no longer sustain himself in hiding, prompting his surrender to the agency on 13th February 2026.
He had since been taken into custody to face his pending charges for which he jumped bail in 2013, and fresh charges based on the 2024 heroin consignments linked to him.