NDLEA arrests ex-Lagos councillor with ’40kg cannabis’, intercepts drugs hidden in baby diapers
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, a former two-term councillor in Ibeju-Lekki LGA of Lagos, over alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that Olalekan, 45, who currently serves as a legislative aide, was arrested on March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki, following intelligence linking him to drug sales.
Babafemi said a search of the residence led to the recovery of 40 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, from one of the rooms, adding that the suspect admitted ownership of the drugs and the property where they were recovered.
He added that Olalekan previously served two terms as councillor representing the Orimedu community in Ibeju-Lekki.
According to him, the arrest was part of a series of operations conducted by the anti-narcotics agency across the country in the past week.
Babafemi added that NDLEA operatives intercepted a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, on March 3 while travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu state to Zuba in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
“A search of his luggage uncovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol concealed inside baby diapers. The suspect told investigators he was transporting the consignment to Guduwa village in Gurara LGA of Niger state,” he said.
“On the same day, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Kabba–Obajana highway in Kogi state intercepted a parcel containing 1.55kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, hidden inside a standing fan carton.
“The consignment was linked to a 36-year-old Cameroonian, Mey Ali Muhamat, who was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon through Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri.”
He said operatives in another operation in Niger state intercepted 500 components used for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) concealed in a sack inside a commercial bus travelling from Ibadan.
“A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Pelegi, Mashegu LGA,” he said.
“Further seizures were recorded in other parts of the country.
“In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers discovered 122,000 tramadol pills and 700 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the false bottom of a truck transporting cartons of local drinks.
“Two suspects were also arrested in Delta state with 18.63kg of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine syrup and 4,268 tramadol and swinol pills.
“In Edo State, operatives destroyed 1,910.25kg of skunk on two farms in Egbisi forest and arrested two suspects, while another suspect was apprehended in Owan east LGA with 176.5kg of skunk.”
He added that Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended officers involved in the operations and urged commands across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control through enforcement and public awareness.
