NDLEA Nabs Notorious Drug Lords in Massive Operation, Seizes Multi-Billion-Naira Drug Haul

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended two high-profile leaders of transnational criminal organizations, confiscating multi-billion-naira worth of illicit drugs and assets.

News About Nigeria gathered that the arrest of these drug lords followed the interception of significant drug shipments at Nigerian airports and intensive intelligence-led operations across the country.

At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, NDLEA officers foiled the smuggling of cocaine and heroin concealed within the bodies of traffickers destined for Paris, France, and Doha, Qatar.

Operatives at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos successfully apprehended Hakeem Babatunde Salami, the mastermind behind the “Tajudeen Babatunde Abioye Transnational Criminal Organization.”

This criminal syndicate was involved in the trafficking of narcotics like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ephedrine between Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe.

Hakeem had fled to South Africa after a member of his group was arrested in Lagos, but he was eventually tracked down with the help of South African authorities.

Another drug cartel, led by Okafor Ikechukwu Williams (aka Jantu) and his wife, was busted in Lagos, where NDLEA operatives discovered 27.566 kilograms of methamphetamine prepared for export to Europe and Asia.

Also, at the Abuja airport, NDLEA arrested two traffickers who had ingested significant quantities of cocaine and heroin, attempting to board flights to Doha and Paris.

In a separate operation along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway, NDLEA intercepted a commercial bus carrying a significant sum of money, including $4,880,000 and CFA57,000,000 suspected to be counterfeits.

Additional successes were reported, including the sentencing of an acting district head in Sokoto for possession and dealing in drugs and the arrest of individuals involved in cannabis cultivation in Edo State.

The NDLEA also conducted educational campaigns to raise awareness about drug abuse in various communities, schools, and markets across the country.

NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the agency’s officers and assured the public that they would remain vigilant and continue their efforts against drug cartels.

These recent operations signify a major victory in the fight against transnational drug trafficking networks in Nigeria.