The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has given an account of how it apprehended one of Lancashire’s most wanted suspects in Lagos on Tuesday September 13, 2011. The suspected fugitive Kindreck Dion Lee who is wanted in the United Kingdom in connection with firearms and drugs offences was arrested by officers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of the NDLEA after intense manhunt for him by the Agency. A Nigerian international passport bearing his photograph with the name Olusegun Babajide was found on him at the time of arrest. The NDLEA disclosed that the United Kingdom and Nigerian authorities have been working closely on how to track-down the suspect.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade while confirming the arrest stated that the suspect is in safe custody. According to Giade, “the Agency successfully apprehended the suspect following scrupulous surveillance by anti-narcotic operatives. He was arrested in Lagos and he is in safe custody. The NDLEA has a statutory mandate to partner with other countries and international organisations in the global fight against illicit drugs. We shall continue to partner with all stakeholders and halt the trade in narcotics as the country is not a safe haven for drug barons”.
The commander of the JTF, Mr. Sunday Zirangey who coordinated the operations stated that preliminary investigation has commenced and additional information is being gathered and processed. “More information is being gathered and processed on the arrest” Zirangey stated.
The Lancashire Constabulary police stated that the suspect, Dion Lee, 34, who is originally from the Lancaster area, is wanted by the Operation Greengage Team for his alleged involvement in the importation of cocaine, cannabis, firearms and ammunition into the United Kingdom from Amsterdam. It added that a European arrest warrant was granted in May 2008 because it was believed that he had links with the Netherlands.
There are strong indications that the suspect who hails from Ikorodu area of Lagos State South West Nigeria will soon be extradited to face criminal charges in the United Kingdom.
