The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected cocaine trafficker accused of masterminding drug shipments to Saudi Arabia.

The agency said on Sunday that its operatives arrested 34-year-old Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu, who allegedly disguised himself as a herbal tea businessman, following intelligence-led investigations into a cocaine shipment intercepted in Lagos.

According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) tracked the suspect after a 1.2kg consignment of cocaine concealed in phone chargers and destined for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was intercepted at a courier company in Lagos on July 31.

Babafemi said Ebubechukwu was arrested in a sting operation at Article Market, opposite Trade Fair Market, in the Ojo area of Lagos, on Friday.

The NDLEA spokesman said the suspect admitted to masterminding previous illicit drug shipments and disclosed that he discarded his SIM card after learning that the latest consignment had been intercepted.

NDLEA revealed that Ebubechukwu had previously been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in 2011 after allegedly ingesting 900 grammes of cocaine and 130 grammes of heroin while attempting to travel to Austria.

The agency further revealed that Ebubchukwu was prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

NDLEA said the suspect subsequently changed his name before allegedly returning to drug trafficking.

A search of his residence at Ejigbo, Lagos, on Friday also led to the recovery of phone chargers similar to those allegedly used to conceal the intercepted cocaine, with their internal components removed to create space for drugs.