The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested suspected drug baroness Bridget Oghenekevwe Emeka in Delta State.
Spokesman of the Agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday said the 59-year-old also known as Mama was arrested on Sunday at her palatial mansion where she allegedly cooks and distributes crack cocaine, methamphetamine and other illicit substances.
Babafemi said the arrest was a major blow to a cartel that distributes drugs in Delta and adjoning states.
He added that her mansion was sealed by the Agency.
He said no fewer than nine of her staff and associates were arrested along with her in coordinated simultaneous operations at her expansive residence and drug bunks where she accommodates drug users and sells illicit substances to them and others in parts of Warri, Delta State.
The spokesman said apart from the drugs seized from her home and drug bunks, a pump action gun, 15 cartridges, documents, two cars, mobile phones, drug paraphernalia such as sodium bicarbonate and polythene wrappings were also recovered for further investigation.
“While five of her staff that cook, cut, package and distribute the drugs were found in her house located at Favour Street, Otukutu, Effurun Warri, four of her associates were equally arrested at her drug bunks in other parts of the town during the raids by Strike Force officers of NDLEA supported by the military.
The drug baroness has been under surveillance for weeks, it was learnt.
Some of the paraphernalia for making Crack recovered from her house include:
sodium bicarbonate, which is the main adulterant and recipe for making crack cocaine, as well as transparent nylon used in wrapping the finished product.