The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe, a US-trained Hollywood and Nollywood filmmaker, on charges of drug trafficking. Mbadiwe, who is also a motivational speaker, was arrested on Friday, December 27, 2024, at his hotel room in Lekki following the earlier detention of his associate, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, the same day at a warehouse in Ajao Estate, Ikeja.
According to a statement released by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Mbadiwe had dispatched James to retrieve a shipment containing 33 parcels of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis. The consignment, weighing 17.30 kilograms, had arrived at the Import Shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, on December 24, 2024, via a Delta Airlines flight from the United States. The illicit substance was concealed within large wooden boxes.

NDLEA operatives acted on intelligence reports and intercepted the shipment at the warehouse. Their investigation linked the consignment to Mbadiwe, leading to his subsequent arrest.

The agency’s crackdown underscores its commitment to tackling drug trafficking and dismantling networks exploiting the film industry’s reputation to conceal illicit activities. Authorities have stated that both suspects are in custody and that further investigations are ongoing.

This arrest highlights the NDLEA’s resolve to curb the influx of illegal drugs into Nigeria and its determination to bring offenders to justice, regardless of their status or profession.