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NDLEA seizes N1.04 billion worth of illicit drugs in Lagos hotel raid

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2 months ago

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized illicit substances valued at N1.042 billion after raiding an 80-room hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, believed to be a drug distribution hub.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that between Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, 2025, officers conducted an intensive search of the five-storey hotel complex known as The Hook Hotel (also referred to as Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge) located at 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street, Victoria Island.

The operation led to the recovery of 589 bags of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, totaling 417.3 kilograms. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is N1,042,500,000.

Three suspects Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh—were arrested during the raid. Two other individuals, Noble Philip and his partner Kenneth, remain at large.

The operation also resulted in the recovery of several items suspected to be proceeds of illicit drug activities, including Toyota Prado Land Cruiser (Lagos AKD 472 OZ), Toyota Sienna Vehicle (Lagos KJA 79 HJ), Volkswagen Delivery Van (Lagos AAA 525 JE), Kia Cerato Car (Lagos BDG 860 GQ), Grand Caravan Dodge (Lagos APP 847 YF), 74 new television sets, 10 used televisions, and 13 refrigerators, among others.

In a separate operation, NDLEA’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a Saudi-bound shipment of 46 wraps of cocaine weighing 547 grams, hidden in body creams. This seizure occurred on Wednesday, April 23, at a courier firm in Lagos. Additionally, a consignment containing 1.8 kg of pentazocine injections and 60 grams of bromazepam tablets bound for Canada was intercepted the same day.

NDLEA operatives in Jigawa State also seized opioid consignments on April 23. The drugs were being transported from Kano to Niger Republic and Yobe State, and two suspects, Abba Ibrahim (28) and Shuaibu Umar (29), were arrested with a Toyota Sienna vehicle loaded with 200,000 tramadol pills (250mg) and 217,500 capsules of pregabalin.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of 41-year-old Jamilu Muhammad in Kano, where an additional 1,584,000 tramadol pills were found, bringing the total seized opioids to 2,001,500 pills.

In the Seme Border area in Badagry, Lagos, three Ghanaian women—Haziza Zubairu (42), Samirat Mustapha (43), and Jamila Salifu (26)—were arrested on Sunday, April 20, while attempting to smuggle 4.8 kg of Ghana Loud into Nigeria.

In Kano, a 60-year-old woman, Safiya Shamsu, was arrested on April 25 with 5.6 kg of skunk (a potent cannabis strain), and Muntari Labaran, 35, was apprehended in Yelwa, Dala LGA, following the seizure of 100 liters of codeine syrup.

Further, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 3,814.9 kg of skunk cultivated on two farms in Ugbodu community, Ovia North East LGA, on April 24. Three suspects Samuel Samson (26), Daniel Peter (20), and Abel Edah (31) were arrested during the operation.

The NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continued with educational outreach at several institutions, including Dan-Doro Community Arabic Secondary School, Katsina, St. James Anglican School, Kebbi, Federal Government Girls College, Tambuwal, Sokoto, and Oganiru Age Grade, Onitsha, Anambra. Additionally, the Lagos State Command visited HRM Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, to further support the WADA initiative.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, commended the efforts of NDLEA operatives across the country, praising their balanced approach in curbing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs.

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