Bayelsa NDLEA Apprehends Notorious Drug Kingpin on Watchlist

The Bayelsa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant arrest, taking into custody a major distributor of illicit drugs within Yenagoa.

The individual, identified as Chimezie Collins, widely known by his alias Mezico and the proprietor of MEZICO Pharmacy situated along the Mbiam-Yenagoa road in Kpansia, Yenagoa, was apprehended with a cache of illegal narcotics.

Authorities recovered a total of 1,030 tablets and caplets comprising various controlled and hard drugs. These included Tramadol in 200mg and 100mg dosages, Swinol/Rophnol, Diazepam, and a designer drug known as Molly. In total, 1900 tablets and caplets were seized.

Further seizures included 150 bottles of Diazepam and pentazocine injections, alongside 77 bottles of codeine. The combined weight of the confiscated substances amounted to 12.461 kilograms, with an estimated market value of approximately N3 million.

According to SN Daniel Obah, the Public Relations Officer for the NDLEA Bayelsa Command, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Thursday, April 2, 2026, the suspect has been on the Command's watchlist for approximately two years. Obah described Collins as an unrepentant and notorious distributor of controlled and hard drugs.

In his reaction, the State Commander of NDLEA in Bayelsa, Kanu Sunny Chukwuemeka, lauded the officers involved for their professionalism in tracking down and arresting the suspect.

Commander Kanu expressed his gratitude to the Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, for his strategic leadership, which employs an intelligence-driven approach in combating drug abuse and trafficking.

Additionally, he extended thanks to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, for his unwavering support to the command's operations aimed at curtailing both the supply and demand for drugs across the state.

Obah reiterated the agency's stance, warning that drug dealers and traffickers should cease their illegal activities or face the full consequences of the law.