The police said this while urging the agency to prosecute its officers suspected of colluding with an international narcotics gang as soon as possible.

The NDLEA had accused former IRT head DCP Abba in the trafficking of cocaine on Monday in a press conference, which led to his detention by the police.

In a statement issued Monday evening, Police Deputy PRO CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed Kyari’s arrest and also accused NDLEA chairman Buba Marwa to expose its officers working for foreign cartels.

“The police investigation also established that the international narcotics cartel involved in this case have strong ties with some officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu who are on their payroll.

“The two arrested drug couriers confirmed that the modus is for the transnational drug barons to conspire with the NDLEA officers on duty and send them their pre-boarding photographs for identification, seamless clearance, and unhindered passage out of the airport with the narcotics being trafficked,” the police said.

Adejobi also stated that the Inspector General of Police has also formally requested “that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency should ensure the identification, arrest, and investigation of the Agency’s officers who have also been found to be colluding with the international drug cartel involved in this case towards advancing the anti-narcotics agenda of the Federal Government.”

Reacting to the police statement, NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi told Peoples Gazette that a statement will be issued to clarify that the operation that led to Mr. Kyari’s indictment is still ongoing, indicating that the agency was not immediately ruling out the involvement of its own officers.