The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a wanted drug baron who operated under the cover of a businessman and hotelier.

A statement on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi stated that the suspect was arrested by operatives of the agency’s special operations unit after weeks of intelligence and surveillance on his criminal activities.

Mr Babafemi said the 42-year-old suspect, who was the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig Ltd., was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel, 66-68 Agbeke Street, Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Lagos, in the early hours of Saturday, November 15.

He said the suspect was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi Street, off Ago Place Way, Isolo, where 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 1,762.8 kilogrammes, were recovered.

“Also seized from him at the point of his arrest include 11,600 US dollars, 2,000 British pounds, 2,200 euros, and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash,” he said.

The NDLEA also stopped an attempt by a drug syndicate operating at Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve, Ife South LGA, Osun, to load and distribute large quantities of processed skunk.

Mr Babafemi said the drugs, which were a strain of cannabis weighing 11,135 kilogrammes, were intercepted on Tuesday, November 11, by NDLEA operatives after days of surveillance in the forest.

“Two trucks being used to transport the illicit consignments—a Volvo truck marked WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck with registration number AWK 713 YZ—were seized, and seven suspects were arrested,” the NDLEA spokesman said.

In another development, Mr Babafemi said 1,902.1 kg of skunk were recovered in parts of Edo State.

He said 184.1kg was recovered along a bush path at Oza/Igbanke Road, Igbanke, in Orhionmwon LGA on November 13, and 672kg was evacuated from Utese Forest, Ovia North East LGA, on November 14.

Mr Babafemi said that another 494kg was recovered from a Mercedes-Benz car marked DE311BEN along the Benin-Akure road.

He added that a suspect, 45, was arrested the same day, just as another 51-year-old suspect was nabbed in another Mercedes-Benz car marked JJJ 56 JW, conveying 552kg.

Similarly, four suspects were arrested with 68kg of skunk and 3.150kg of methamphetamine along the Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun State.

“Another 50-year-old suspect was nabbed with 172kg of skunk in the Sunkani area of Ardo Kola LGA, Taraba State, on Friday, November 14, and a 24-year-old suspect with 84kg of the same substance in the Takum area of the state.

“In Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives on Friday, November 14, recovered 396,000 capsules of tramadol from a suspect at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola,” he said.

According to Mr Babafemi, 785kg of skunk was evacuated from the warehouse of a drug dealer currently at large in Asob Maraba, Karu, Nasarawa State.

The NDLEA spokesman said operatives arrested two suspects on Friday, November 14, with 130 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 65.150kg in the Surulere area of Lagos.

“Another suspect was nabbed the same day with 282 blocks of Ghana Loud with a gross weight of 141kg at Otto, Oyingbo area of Lagos,” he said.

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck marked T-0262KT on Thursday, November 13, along the Ilorin–Jebba expressway.

Mr Babafemi said the truck was conveying 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565kg and 155 cartons of rubber solutions. He added that the driver was taken into custody.

In another operation, a commercial bus with registration number KJA-657CY was intercepted at Eiyenkonrin, Ilorin, on Thursday, November 13. Twenty blocks of skunk were concealed in a 50-litre jerrycan, and the driver, Ibrahim Bello, was arrested.

(NAN)