Operatives of the Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) weekend dismantled a significant drug trafficking syndicate following a collection of intelligence-led operations spanning three weeks.
The crackdown led to the interception of cocaine consignments hid in tins of palm kernel extract certain for the UK, in addition to the arrest of the community’s kingpin and a number of other accomplices.
This was contained in an announcement Sunday by the director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who mentioned the operation started on March 11, 2026, when NDLEA officers on the Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside palm kernel oil cans on the export shed. Two suspects, Idris Olayiwola Amoo and Akinlami Akinsoji Adedoyin, have been arrested whereas dealing with the cargo.
A follow-up sting operation on April 2 led to the arrest of the sender, Ezemuwo Joel, who had been working below a false identification. His seize in the end uncovered the syndicate’s chief, 52-year-old King Arinze, who was tracked to a hideout in Isolo, Lagos.
NDLEA operatives subsequently raided Arinze’s warehouse within the Bucknor space of Isolo, the place they recovered 886 tins ready for drug concealment, industrial sealing tools, paint sprays, 52 grams of hashish, and different supplies used within the illicit operation. Arinze reportedly confessed to personally draining the palm kernel oil to cover cocaine contained in the containers.
In a associated operation in Borno state, NDLEA officers arrested 28-year-old Aisha Adamu alongside the Gamboru Ngala Street with 4.3 kilograms of “Colorado,” a potent artificial hashish pressure. She is believed to be a provider to bandit {groups} working throughout the North-East and into Chad.
In the meantime, in Lagos State, a pastor, Afolabi Hodonu of the Celestial Church of Christ, and his spouse, Success Hodonu, have been apprehended on the Gbaji checkpoint in Badagry. A search of their car uncovered 11 kilograms of skunk hid in hidden compartments. Their arrest adopted an earlier operation on the identical checkpoint the place a suspected faux safety agent was caught transporting 24.5 kilograms of skunk.
In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers intercepted a truck carrying 48,000 tramadol drugs alongside Namtari Street in Yola South, resulting in the arrest of the driving force and the meant recipient.
Additional operations recorded important seizures throughout a number of states: In Osun state, a 60-year-old suspect was arrested with 15kg of skunk in Osogbo. In Ondo state, operatives raided a forest in Akure, recovering 351kg of skunk and seeds.
In Benue state, a suspect was arrested with 28,600 tramadol capsules in Aliade. In Edo state, a warehouse raid in Orhionmwon LGA led to the seizure of 1,378kg of skunk. In Oyo state, a infamous seller often called “Iya Elle” was arrested in Ibadan, with 45.6kg of skunk recovered. She allegedly used her 11-year-old daughter to distribute medication.
The NDLEA additionally sustained its Battle Towards Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns nationwide, reaching colleges in Oyo, Lagos, Kano, Anambra, and Zamfara states.
Commending officers throughout varied instructions, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised their efforts in balancing drug provide discount with demand discount methods.