The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 34-year-old ex-convict, Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu, who allegedly posed as a herbal tea businessman while coordinating cocaine shipments to Saudi Arabia.
The anti-narcotics agency said the suspect was apprehended in Lagos on Friday, September 4, 2026, following intelligence-led investigations that linked him to multiple attempts to traffic cocaine concealed in herbal tea consignments destined for the Middle East.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect allegedly used his herbal tea business as a cover for illicit drug operations and was identified as a key figure behind several cocaine shipments intercepted by authorities. Investigators reportedly uncovered evidence connecting him to the trafficking network after a series of seizures and follow-up operations.
The agency said the arrest forms part of its ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates operating within and outside Nigeria.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has repeatedly stressed the need to disrupt the financial and operational structures of drug cartels, warning traffickers that the agency will continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations across the country.
The suspect is expected to face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the trafficking network.
