Nigeria’s Drug Cartel Crushed: Four Kingpins Sentenced to 95 Years, Luxury Assets Seized in ₦4.6 Billion Cocaine Bust

 

Nigeria’s Drug Cartel Crushed: Four Kingpins Sentenced to 95 Years, Luxury Assets Seized in ₦4.6 Billion Cocaine Bust

In a decisive blow to Nigeria’s underground drug empire, four high-profile drug lords have been sentenced to a combined 95 years behind bars. Their sophisticated narcotics trafficking network, responsible for smuggling cocaine and cannabis ("skunk") worth over ₦4.6 billion, has been dismantled, with their luxury assets—including SUVs—seized by authorities.



The Convicted Kingpins

1. Ogbuji Christian Ifeanyi – The Serial Trafficker

A 48-year-old businessman turned drug baron, Ifeanyi was initially apprehended on May 10, 2023, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after ingesting 93 pellets of cocaine weighing nearly 2 kg. Despite securing release by paying a fine, he resumed operations and was caught again at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, attempting to smuggle 19.40 kg of cocaine hidden in 817 wraps.

  • Conviction: 15 years imprisonment (5 years with a ₦7 million fine option + 10 years without parole).
  • Asset Forfeiture: All possessions at the time of arrest seized by the Nigerian government.

2. Iloduba Augustine Chinonye – The Cross-Border Mule

Arrested on December 31, 2021, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for swallowing 58 wraps of cocaine, Chinonye expelled 48 pellets mid-flight from Ethiopia and the remaining 10 in NDLEA custody.

  • Conviction: Two concurrent 5-year sentences handed down by the Federal High Court in Enugu on March 5, 2025.

3 & 4. Shuaibu Nuhu Isa (a.k.a. Don) & Zidon Zurga – The Cannabis Traffickers

Both men were nabbed on November 25, 2024, along the Numan-Yola highway, concealing 500.8 kg of cannabis in a Toyota Hilux and a Prado SUV—the latter carrying fake presidential license plates.

  • Conviction: 35 years imprisonment each (with an alternative ₦25 million fine per person).
  • Seized Vehicles: Both SUVs, including the fake government-plated Prado, have been confiscated.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), under the leadership of Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), has intensified efforts to dismantle criminal drug networks. Marwa praised the judiciary’s decisive stance, emphasizing that these convictions serve as a powerful deterrent against organized drug trafficking.

The Significance of This Crackdown

  • Targeting Repeat Offenders: The harsh sentencing of Ifeanyi underscores Nigeria’s zero-tolerance policy against repeat drug offenders.
  • Luxury Vehicle Seizures: The confiscation of high-end vehicles disrupts the financial backbone of drug cartels.
  • Judicial Commitment: The courts’ decisions reinforce the government’s aggressive stance on narcotics smuggling.

Nigeria has become a key transit hub in the global narcotics trade, with traffickers leveraging advanced concealment tactics. From swallowing cocaine pellets to using fake presidential license plates, smugglers continually evolve their methods, prompting authorities to step up intelligence-based operations.

This landmark case sends an unmistakable message—drug trafficking in Nigeria comes with dire consequences. As authorities intensify their crackdown on syndicates, criminals are left with fewer options but to face justice.

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