NDLEA Busts Billion Naira Cannabis Operation In Lagos Hotel, Intercepts Massive Drug Shipments

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) conducted a significant drug bust in Lagos, seizing 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, from a newly established 80-room hotel on Victoria Island. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is ₦1.04 billion.

According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi’s press statement on Sunday, the operation, which took place between Friday and Saturday, targeted The Hook Hotel, also known as Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge, at 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street. The anti-narcotics agency claimed the hotel was used as a front for drug distribution.

“Our operatives spent hours combing the rooms of the five-story hotel building,” Babafemi explained.

Three suspects, Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh, were apprehended during the raid. Two more suspects, Noble Philip and Kenneth, are currently at large.

In addition to the drugs, NDLEA officers seized items suspected of being proceeds of the illegal trade, including:

Toyota Prado Land Cruiser Jeep (Lagos AKD 472 OZ)
Toyota Sienna (Lagos, KJA 79 HJ)
Volkswagen delivery van (Lagos AAA 525 JE).
Kia Ceranto Car (Lagos, BDG 860 GQ)
Grand Caravan Dodge (APP 847 YF, Lagos).
74 new television sets.
10 used television sets
Thirteen refrigerators.

The bust in Lagos is one of several major interdictions carried out by the NDLEA in the last week.

Jigawa and Kano Opioids Seizure: In Jigawa state, a follow-up operation in Kano resulted in the seizure of over 2 million tramadol and pregabalin pills en route to Niger Republic and Yobe state.

The first interception occurred last Wednesday on the Kano-Ringim road in Gumel town, where two suspects, Abba Ibrahim, 28, and Shuaibu Umar, 29, were apprehended. A quick follow-up in Kano led to the arrest of the supplier, 41-year-old Jamilu Muhammad, and the discovery of a large amount of opioids at his home.

Cocaine Intercepted at Lagos Logistics Company: Following the discovery of cocaine concealed in religious books bound for Saudi Arabia, NDLEA agents intercepted another shipment of 46 wraps of cocaine (547 grammes) hidden in body cream bound for the Middle Eastern country.

Other intercepted consignments included 1.8 kilogrammes of pentazocine injection and 60 grammes of bromazepam tablets bound for Canada.

Three Ghanaian women were arrested at the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos, on April 20th while attempting to smuggle 4.8 kilogrammes of Ghana Loud into Nigeria.

The suspects were identified as Haziza Zubairu (42), Samirat Mustapha (43), and Jamila Salifu (26).

Drug Busts in Kano: A 60-year-old woman, Safiya Shamsu, was arrested with 5.6 kilogrammes of skunk, and Muntari Labaran, 35, was apprehended with 100 litres of codeine syrup.

Skunk Plantations Destroyed in Edo State: In Edo state, NDLEA agents raided skunk plantations in the Ugbodu community, destroying 3,814.9 kilogrammes of the illegal substance and apprehending three suspects: Samuel Samson, 26, Daniel Peter, 20, and Abel Edah, 31.

The NDLEA is continuing its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign across the country.

Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the agency’s officers and men for their efforts in reducing drug supply and demand. He urged them to take a balanced approach to their nationwide operations.