Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a pastor, Afolabi Hodonu, and his wife, Success, after recovering 11kg of skunk concealed in their vehicle at the Seme border in Lagos.
According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the couple was intercepted on April 2 at the Gbaji checkpoint, where a search of their SUV revealed the drugs hidden in secret compartments.
“The arrest of the couple followed the apprehension of a fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, 35, at the same checkpoint on Monday 30th March, while conveying 24.5kg skunk from Seme border to Lagos,” the statement reads.
Babafemi also disclosed that operatives dismantled a drug trafficking network involved in exporting cocaine to the UK. The operation began on March 11 when NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport intercepted 3.10kg of cocaine hidden in tins of palm kernel extract.
Two suspects linked to the shipment, Idris Amoo and Akinlami Adedoyin, were arrested at the airport, while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the sender, Ezemuwo Joel, who was operating under a false identity.
Further investigation resulted in the arrest of the alleged syndicate leader, King Arinze, at a hideout in Isolo, Lagos.
“At his warehouse at 11, Ola Ifa Street, Bucknor, Isolo where NDLEA operatives recovered 886 tins of palm kernel extract prepared for drug concealment; industrial tools including a sealing machine, tin openers; paint sprays; 52 grams of cannabis sativa and a pack of hand gloves,” he said.
“Arinze has since confessed to personally draining the oil from the tins to conceal the cocaine.”
In a separate operation in Borno, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives arrested Aisha Adamu, 28, along the Gamboru-Ngala road for allegedly supplying drugs to bandit groups operating between Nigeria’s north-east and Chad. A total of 4.3kg of Colorado was recovered from her.
The agency also recorded multiple seizures across several states, including tramadol interceptions in Adamawa, cannabis recoveries in Osun and Ondo, and major drug busts in Edo, Benue, and Oyo states.