The operatives of the Imo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested an alleged notorious drug dealer, Mr. Ugochukwu Ehirim, who is alleged to be a major distributor of hard drugs in the Owerri metropolis.

Sunday Sun reliably gathered that before the arrest of Mr. Ehirim, the people of Umuororonjo community in Owerri Municipal Council Area had been living in fear over his activities.

An indigene of the community who spoke on the condition of anonymity disclosed that the arrest of Ehirim has brought relief to the entire community as the activities of Ehirim and his gang members had become a source of worry to the community.

“Since the arrest of Ugochukwu Ehirim the entire people of the community have heaved a sigh of relief because of his activities and those of his gang as they constantly harass people. They are involved in all manners of vices. Nobody thought that he would ever be arrested as he seemed to be above the law.

He added, “To show how happy we were over the final arrest of Ugochukwu Ehirim, some elders of the community went to the office of the NDLEA to thank them and appealed to them to come back for a clean-up operation of the remnant of his gang.

The Deputy State Commander, Mrs. Chinyere Kalu Olugu, who confirmed the arrest of Ugochukwu Ehirim at his residence on Tetlow Road in Umuororojo community, said he had been on the wanted list of the agency.

“This suspect has been on our watch list for a long time and resources were committed into tracking and trailing his activities,” Olugu said.

She added: “The command cordoned off his joint at Tetlow area of Owerri following an intelligence tip and arrested him to the relief of the people in the area, who have complained of the incessant harassments by the suspect and members of his gang.”

Kalu Olugu further stated that investigation by the agency revealed that the suspect had inherited the illicit business from his late father who was alleged to be a drug baron.

She said the suspects have all confessed to the crime and would be charged to court in line with the NDLEA extant laws.

The NDLEA Boss also disclosed that assets of the suspect are also being investigated with a view to forfeiture to the Federal Government.

However, she appealed to the state Government to assist the command with patrol vehicles to aid officers of the command effectively carry out their duties of making the state free of illicit drug.

•Sourced from Sunday Sun report

Update news