Dare Babalola
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a cleric and his wife in Lagos after uncovering illicit drugs hidden inside their vehicle.
The suspects, identified as 45-year-old Afolabi Hodonu and his wife, Success, were intercepted on April 2 at the Gbaji checkpoint near the Seme border in Badagry.
Authorities said the couple was travelling in a Honda Pilot SUV when officers discovered about 11 kilogrammes of skunk concealed within specially modified compartments of the vehicle.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that the arrest was linked to an earlier operation at the same location. Days before, operatives had apprehended a suspect posing as a security officer while allegedly transporting 24.5 kilogrammes of skunk from the border into Lagos.
Intelligence gathered from that case led to the subsequent arrest of the cleric and his wife.
Beyond the Lagos interception, the agency disclosed that it dismantled a major drug trafficking syndicate following a three-week intelligence-driven operation.
The network specialised in concealing cocaine inside tins of palm kernel extract destined for export to the United Kingdom.
The breakthrough, according to the agency, began with the seizure of 3.10 kilogrammes of cocaine at the export section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja.
The drugs were hidden in processed tins intended for overseas shipment.
Two suspects linked to the consignment were arrested, while further investigations uncovered the sender, who had been operating under a false identity.
His arrest eventually led operatives to the alleged leader of the syndicate, who was tracked to a hideout in Lagos.
A raid on the group’s warehouse in the Isolo area led to the recovery of hundreds of empty tins prepared for drug concealment, along with equipment used to seal and package the products.
Investigators said the suspected kingpin admitted to draining the contents of the tins before inserting cocaine for export.
The NDLEA also reported a string of arrests and seizures in other parts of the country.
In Borno State, a 28-year-old woman was intercepted along the Gamboru Ngala route with 4.3 kilogrammes of Colorado, a potent synthetic cannabis reportedly meant for supply to criminal groups operating in the region.
In Adamawa, operatives stopped a truck along Namtari Road in Yola, uncovering 48,000 tramadol tablets.
The driver was arrested, while a follow-up operation led to the apprehension of the intended recipient.
Similar operations in Osun, Ondo, Benue, Edo and Oyo states led to the seizure of large quantities of cannabis and tramadol, as well as the arrest of several suspects, including a woman accused of using her young daughter to distribute drugs to customers.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across multiple commands for the coordinated successes, noting that the agency remains committed to disrupting drug supply chains nationwide.
“These successful operations are a testament to the Agency’s evolving intelligence capabilities and our unwavering commitment to choking the supply lines of drug cartels.
Whether they hide behind legitimate businesses, religious titles, or complex concealment methods, we will find them,” he said.
