IN DETAIL: NDLEA arrests alleged Billionaire Drug Baron linked to Abba Kyari’s team and Marks Disgraced Police Boss' Properties in Maiduguri
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday, announced the arrest of Chief Afam Ukatu, the billionaire drug baron behind the N3b tramadol deal linked to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team, (IRT).
Ukatu, Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies was arrested after months of surveillance and evading arrest by anti-narcotic operatives onboard a flight to Abuja at the MM2 terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja on Wednesday, April 13.
NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday, said investigations revealed that the suspect has been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of tramadol hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg, all of which are illicit.
Babafemi said Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria as well as operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.
“Ukatu came under watch last year after five cartons of tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on May 4, 2021, when he sent them to sell to undercover police officers (unknown to Ukatu) from the then Kyari-led IRT of the Nigeria Police, Ikeja Lagos.
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA also marked 6 houses and a plaza belonging to embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
It can be recalled that Kyari was arrested by the drug agency after attempting to bribe an official of the agency to secure the release of seized cocaine earlier this year.
However, the agency has marked the properties situated in Maiduguri for investigation.
The two-storey shopping plaza, Assurance Plaza, located along the Giwa Barracks Road, has about 100 stores.
The six residential houses, all within the Maiduguri New Government Residential Area have been marked and this is coming barely 2 days after the arrest of Mallison Ukatu, a suspected drug dealer behind a controversial N3 billion tramadol cargo linked to Kyari and his now disbanded IRT team.

