In a significant breakthrough, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended a notorious drug kingpin identified as Charles Uwagbale in Lagos. The arrest took place at a hotel in the Okota area of Lagos on Friday, and it was followed by the seizure of a substantial quantity of cocaine weighing 1.427 kilograms.Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, revealed in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that Uwagbale was a key player in the illicit drug trade. His modus operandi involved recruiting young Nigerians and funding their trips to Europe, particularly Italy, to smuggle Class A drugs.The arrest operation was a result of diligent surveillance and intelligence gathering by NDLEA operatives, who had been tracking Uwagbale’s activities closely. On Friday night, the operatives stormed the hotel room where Uwagbale was preparing a courier, Uju Dominic, to transport 93 pellets of cocaine to Italy.Uju Dominic, aged 35 and a resident of Italy, had come to Nigeria for the sole purpose of ingesting the cocaine pellets and returning to Italy the next day. The plan was set in motion, and the drug-laden courier was lodged at the Golden Heaven Hotel in Okota.However, NDLEA’s timely intervention thwarted the drug trafficking scheme. The operatives apprehended both Uwagbale and Uju Dominic, successfully recovering the 93 wraps of cocaine during the operation.Additionally, in a separate operation carried out by the Lagos Command of NDLEA, law enforcement authorities seized 37.5 kilograms of cannabis from the residence of a fleeing suspect in the Akala area of Mushin, Lagos.The NDLEA’s relentless efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse continue to yield positive results, with the agency making significant strides in curbing the illegal drug trade across the country.It is important to note that drug trafficking is a serious offense with severe consequences, and the NDLEA has been warning potential drug hawkers of the harsh penalties awaiting those caught in the illicit trade.The successful arrest of Charles Uwagbale and the seizure of a large quantity of drugs mark a significant victory in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in Nigeria. The NDLEA remains committed to its mission of eradicating drug-related crimes and ensuring a safer society for all citizens.