The police have handed over the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, and 4 other police officers to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Others arrested alongside Kyari include ACP Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agrigba, and Inspector John Nuhu, while the fifth suspect, ASP John Umoru, is still at large.

Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed their arrest in a statement in Abuja, revealed that they were arrested for alleged links to an international drug gang.

They were arrested on Monday for their involvement in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy, discreditable, unethical and unprofessional conduct, official corruption, and tampering with exhibits in a case of illicit drug trafficking involving a perpetual transnational drug cartel, the police said.

He explained that the arrest of the officers was a sequel to pieces of information received from the leadership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on 10th February 2022.

According to Olumuyiwa Adejobi, In line with the standard administrative procedure of the Force, the Inspector General of Police ordered a high-level, discreet, and in-house investigation into the allegations.

He said the interim investigation’s report revealed that two international drug couriers identified as Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus, both males, were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu on the 19th of January 2022 upon their arrival from Addis Ababa aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET917.

The force public relation officer noted that the arrest led to the recovery of a substantial quantity of powdery substance suspected to be cocaine from the two narcotic couriers.

He added that the operation which was intelligence-driven was undertaken by a unit of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

FRCN, Abuja