NDLEA names Tony Onwurolu as baron of seized N6.5bn drugs in Lagos
By Abiodun Iyare
The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has named one Tony Onwurolu as the owner of drugs worth N6.5b seized at the Lagos Murtala International Airports.
The NDLEA has already declared the suspect wanted. His home located in Ajao Estate area of Lagos was raided, but he had left before the drug enforcement officers could reach his abode. Officials said he had sophisticated monitoring equipment in his house which gave him escape hints, Irohinoodua was informed.
Officials put the value of the drug at N6.5bn. Spokesperson of NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi identified Onwurolu’s house as located on Lateef Adegboyega Street, off Ago Palace Way, by Grandmate Bus Stop, Okota, Lagos.
Babafemi said in a statement “During the follow-up operation, Tony Chidi Onwurolu, who mounted counter-surveillance around his neighbourhood, fled his home before the arrival of the team of operatives who stormed his residence. They were, however, able to search his home and recover a number of documents to establish his true identity.
“Following the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), has directed that the fleeing drug baron, Tony Chidi Onwurolu, be declared wanted immediately and his details submitted to Interpol for tracking across the world. He, therefore, directed the agency’s directorate of assets and financial investigations, as well as the directorate of intelligence, to deploy their networks to fast track the arrest of Onwurolu.
He quoted Marwa to have said that in view of the volume of heroin brought into the country by the fleeing baron, the agency would deploy all available mechanisms, locally and internationally, to track him and bring him to face charges in a law court.”