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.

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Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said Onyekwere, 47, was arrested on Thursday, January 29, during the inward clearance of South African Airways passengers arriving from Brazil via Johannesburg, following processed intelligence.

Babafemi said a body scan confirmed illicit drug concealment, after which a strip search led to the discovery of a large parcel of white powdery substance, later confirmed to be cocaine, wrapped around his right thigh.

“Two additional wraps of the same substance were also recovered from the soles of the flat shoes he was wearing,” he said.

“In total, three wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.60 kilogrammes, were recovered from the suspect.

“During preliminary interrogation, Onyekwere said he purchased the drugs in Brazil and planned to sell them in Nigeria to raise capital for his business and to support the naming ceremony of his newborn child.

“The suspect, who lives in São Paulo, Brazil, claimed he had resided in the country since 2008 and had operated a toy business for about nine years.”

He added that in another major interception, NDLEA officers, in a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) and other security agencies, uncovered 55 jumbo bags of Canadian loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 1,183 kilogrammes at the Tincan Seaport, Lagos, on Wednesday, January 28.

Babafemi, said the drugs, imported from Montreal, Canada, were concealed inside two vehicles, a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix, packed in a container.

“In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, January 26, intercepted a long truck along the Dei-Dei–Abuja expressway and arrested three suspects — Andy Chidogu, 49; Kenneth Ogene, 45; and Sadiq Olanrewaju, 27 — for conveying 176 bags of skunk weighing 2,735 kilogrammes, alongside one kilogramme of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis,” he said.

“Investigations showed that Ogene, the driver of the truck, had transported 800 bags of flour from Lagos to Ekpoma, Edo state, before negotiating to move the drugs for N1.7 million.

“In Edo state, NDLEA officers arrested Shaibu Yusuf along the Auchi–Abuja expressway while attempting to move 66 bags of skunk concealed in charcoal sacks and weighing 792 kilogrammes to Katsina.

“Also in the state, NDLEA operatives, supported by personnel of the Nigerian Army, raided a cannabis farm at Ebora Camp, Ilushi, in Esan south-east LGA on Wednesday, January 28.

“A total of 4,063.675 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on over 1.6 hectares of farmland was destroyed, while 328 kilogrammes of processed cannabis and seeds were recovered.

“Four suspects — Jeremiah Nwodeh, 46; Chukwudi Pius, 33; Pius Ogaba, 46; and Onora Kwene, 35 — were arrested at the farm.

“In Anambra, NDLEA operatives intercepted a cement truck at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, on Wednesday, January 28. A search revealed 345.2 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in cement bags. One of the occupants of the truck, Abum Okeke, 42, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

“In Ondo state, two suspects — Tunde Ogundele, 39, and Soji Elegbelye, 46 — were arrested at Eleyewo community in Akure North on Monday, January 26, over the seizure of 473 kilogrammes of skunk.

“In Kano, NDLEA officers on the same day arrested Abdullahi Usman, 45, along Murtala Mohammed Way with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection. Another suspect, Musa Shuaibu, 42, was arrested in the Gaya area of the state on Tuesday, January 27, with 4,390 pills of tramadol.

“In Lagos, Oragwan Ekene was arrested on Friday, January 30, at Okeyson Park, Alaba, with 15.5 kilogrammes of skunk while heading to Onitsha, Anambra state.

“Also, at the Seme border in Badagry, NDLEA officers recovered 3.5 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in a sound system and two packets of cereal from the luggage of Omang Peter Edward, who was arriving from Cotonou, Benin Republic.”

The post NDLEA intercepts Brazil returnee with cocaine hidden in private parts, footwear first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that ​Kanmo-Kanmo, who is allegedly notorious for drug trafficking, evading arrest and mobilising armed thugs against security agents, was apprehended on Friday, January 16, after he was tracked to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State.

Babafemi said the suspect was picked up by tactical teams of the agency following credible intelligence.

“During the clinical operation, the suspect was found in possession of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis,” the statement reads.

The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the agency’s commitment to ensuring that no fugitive, regardless of how long they evade justice, remains beyond the reach of the law.

“​Lekan Jimoh’s criminal history is marked by extreme violence and lawlessness. As a result, on 15th June 2014, he had orchestrated a barbaric mob action against a team of NDLEA officers who had attempted to arrest him at his enclave.

“The attack resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others, who were killed by armed thugs mobilised by Jimoh.

“While the suspect managed to escape the scene that day, the Agency remained resolute in its pursuit of justice for the fallen heroes.”

The NDLEA spokesperson added that in another encounter with Jimoh on August 12, 2023, when operatives stormed his residence in Ado-Odo town, Ogun state, he managed to escape while 139 sacks of skunk with a total weight of 1,922 kilograms were recovered.

“Following asset forfeiture proceedings instituted in court by the agency, the house in Ado-Odo, which served as a warehouse for his illicit drug trade, has since been finally forfeited to the federal government,” Babafemi said.

Babafemi said Buba Marwa, chairman of the NDLEA, commended the officers and men of the Ogun, Lagos, Apapa, Edo, Delta, Oyo, FCT, Enugu, and Kwara commands for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa also acknowledged their commitment and enjoined them as well as their colleagues nationwide to maintain the current tempo of their balanced approach to the Agency’s drug control efforts.

He described the arrest of Kanmo-kanmo as a triumph of justice and a testament to the agency’s long memory, adding that the arrest sends a clear and unambiguous message to all drug barons and fugitives.

“You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you,” Marwa was quoted as saying.

​“The arrest of Lekan Jimoh is particularly significant because it closes a painful chapter that began on June 15, 2014. For twelve years, this individual lived with the blood of our gallant officers—Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others—on his hands.

“He mistakenly thought that time had erased his crimes. Today, we have proven that the NDLEA does not forget its own.

“We do not forget the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives in the service of our fatherland. This arrest is for the families of those three officers who have waited 12 years for justice,” Marwa said in a tribute to the officers lost over a decade ago.

The post Wanted drug kingpin ‘Kanmo-Kanmo’ arrested 12 years after murder of three NDLEA officers first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

The Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested Isaiah Nkanta, an 80-year-old grandpa, over possession of 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, in his residence in Mmanta-Abak village, Abak LGA of Akwa Ibom state.

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi said Nkanta, an ex-convict, was arrested on Saturday, January 10, following credible intelligence.

Babafemi said Nkata was first arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for dealing in illicit drugs about three years ago.

“Notorious for illicit drug business, Nkanta was first arrested by NDLEA on 14th December 2022, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state,” the statement reads.

“Not ready to let go of the old habit, Nkanta returned to the illicit drug trade and following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 10th January 2025 tracked the octogenarian ex-convict to his Mmanta-Abak village, Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom state, where he was arrested with 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, in his residence.”

The NDLEA spokesperson also said operatives in Akwa Ibom state on January 9 intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Onyebuchi Romans, while travelling with full-body mannequins for his clothing business in Cameroon.

According to him, a search of the mannequins revealed that they were stuffed with pills of tramadol weighing 5.3 kilograms.

“The suspect claims he resides in Cameroun and was reportedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended,” Babafemi said.

“It was revealed that he bought the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra state and was trafficking them to Cameroun to sell, using two mannequins to conceal the opioids.”

He added that raids across different locations in Oyo state led to the seizure of dangerous illicit drugs and the arrest of notorious dealers.

Babafemi said one of those arrested was 45-year-old Remi Bamidele (Alias ‘Aluko the Mafia’) at Sasa in Ibadan, the state capital, with a total of 10.696 kilograms of Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud and skunk, all strains of cannabis.

“At the time of his arrest on Thursday 8th January, two vehicles: Toyota Venza and a Toyota Yaris marked HG 06 LYD, were recovered from him,” he said.

“At Adegbayi area of the state capital Ibadan, NDLEA officers on Friday 9th January arrested Adeola Toheeb, 27, with various quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud and skunk while Habeeb Ali, 29, was nabbed at Ring road, Ibadan with 1.264kg Colorado, Scottish Loud and skunk.

“Not less than One Million Three Hundred and Seven Thousand One Hundred Naira (N1,307,100) cash exhibit was also recovered from him at the point of his arrest on Saturday 10th January.

“A dispatch rider Osagbovo Edigin, 30, and two other suspects: Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were on Friday 9th January arrested at Ihama/Airport road GRA Benin City, Edo state in connection with the seizure of 118grams of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado.

“While Jimoh Agbonmhegbe, 49, was arrested at Irrua with 17.552kg Colorado, Loud and skunk, another suspect Evelyn Okoyomon, 38, was nabbed at Ubiaja with 930 grams of skunk on Wednesday 7th January.

“In Niger state, no fewer than 4,000 pills of tramadol 225mg were recovered from a suspect Nazifi Umar, 22, at Dakwa town, Tafa LGA, while another suspect Yusuf Usman, 41, was nabbed with 100 blocks of skunk weighing 47kg Lankaviri, Yorro LGA Taraba state on Wednesday 7th January.

“Not less than 30,950 capsules of tramadol were recovered from the home of a suspect Ugwoke Chibueze, 40, in Bachure area of Yola South LGA, Adamawa state following his arrest at the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha International Airport Yola on Tuesday 6th January.”

The post NDLEA arrests 80-year-old ex-convict with ‘illicit drugs’ in Akwa Ibom first appeared on The Times of Abuja.

In a statement on Tuesday, Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said Deinde Dipeolu, the presiding judge, sentenced the couple on Monday.

Babfemi said the couple was arrested on June 13 by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in the Ojo area of Lagos.

Babafemi said they were transferred to NDLEA along with 277.5 kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

“Although they were still being investigated in custody, intelligence revealed that the family business was going on in their house, and this led to a raid of their home and a packing store where 231 kg of the same substance was recovered by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, July 1st,” the statement reads.

“They were arraigned in charge number FHC/L/632C/2025 at the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, dealing and storage of 414.2 kilograms of cannabis sativa.

“Delivering his judgement on the case on Monday, 4th August, Justice Dipeolu convicted Mrs.

“Rosemary Uchenna was convicted on counts 1, 2, and 3, and sentenced to 17 years in prison without an option of a fine, while her husband, Johnson Ajah Uchenna, was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment without the option of fine on count 1 and six months in jail on count 4 with an option of N1 million fine.

“In addition to the jail terms, the trial judge also ordered that the sum of three million, four hundred and seven thousand Naira (N3,407,000.00) only recovered from the couple as proceeds of crime be forfeited to the federal government.”

Babafemi also said a federal high court in Kano presided over by Simon Amobeda convicted and sentenced Neetu Neetu, a 42-year-old Indian lady, to five years imprisonment for importing 72 parcels of factory-sealed heroin in wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates.

He said the heroin, which weighed 11 kilograms, was to be smuggled in through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

“The drug consignment was recovered from Neetu’s luggage after a thorough search during an inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha at the arrival hall of the Kano airport on Friday, 14th March 2025,” the NDLEA spokesperson said.

“She was subsequently arraigned in charge number FHC/KN/CR/65/2025 before Justice Amobeda, who eventually sentenced her to 10 years on two counts with an option of N2 million fine.

“That is not all, Mbala Dajou Abuba, a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, was sentenced to five years in prison by Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a federal high court in Kano following his arrest and arraignment by the NDLEA for ingesting 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829 kilograms.

“Abuba, who is from the Zaire province in Angola, was arrested on Tuesday, 25th February, at the screening point of the Kano airport while trying to board Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul, Turkey, via Cairo.

“The NDLEA has also secured the final forfeiture of a multi-billion Naira 80-room Hotel and Lounge in Victoria Island, Lagos, linked to an illicit drug trafficking cartel, along with other assets.

“The 80-room hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, was used as a cover for distributing illicit substances.

“It was raided between Friday, 25th and Saturday, 26th April 2025 by NDLEA operatives who, after hours of combing the rooms, recovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis with a total weight of 417.3 kilograms worth One Billion Forty-Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1,042,500,000) only in street value.

“Forfeited along with the landed property situated at No. 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street off Elsie Femi Pearse Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, include Toyota Sienna Vehicle marked KJA 79 HJ; Volkswagen Delivery Van numbered AAA 525 JE; KIA Ceranto Car with plate number BDG 860 GQ; Black Colour Land Cruiser Prado with plate number AKD 472 DZ and Red Colour Grand Caravan Dodge with plate number APP 847 YF.

“Others are white colour Mazda bus marked KTU 241 AAA; Mercedes-Benz truck with registration number ASB 500 XY; gold colour Toyota Corolla car with registration number EKY 295 JT; ash colour Sienna minibus; 84 television sets; 70 air new conditioners; and 13 New Fridges.”

Babafemi said Buba Marwa, the chairman of NDLEA, commended the various commands of the agency and their officers and men that handled the various cases.

“Nothing serves the cause of justice more than when the criminal elements are given long jail terms and made to forfeit all they have acquired through the proceeds of their illicit drug trade, and we’re happy with this kind of judicial pronouncements, which will not only encourage our men to do more but will have long lasting impact on our drug control efforts,” he quoted Marwa to have said.

The post Couple jailed 22 years for drug trafficking as NDLEA secures major convictions first appeared on The Times of Abuja.