By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
An 80-year-old man, Pa Aremu Shojobi, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for running a 25-year chain of cannabis network.
He was caught in possession of 14 kilograms of cannabis. Shojobi, who had been operating from his home in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, admitted to selling illicit drugs for the past 25 years. According to the NDLEA, he sourced the drugs from the Benin Republic.
In a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, it was revealed that Shojobi conducted his business daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Babafemi added that Shojobi’s arrest was part of broader efforts to tackle drug trafficking and smuggling in the region.
Massive Seizures of Drugs at Lagos Port
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives at the Tin Can port complex in Lagos seized a substantial haul of illegal drugs. Over 25 million pills of tapentadol, a highly potent opioid, along with 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were discovered in three containers. These seizures occurred on September 17 and 20, 2024, following intelligence reports. The estimated street value of the tapentadol was ₦13.7 billion, while the codeine was valued at ₦2.45 billion, bringing the total value to over ₦16 billion.
Babafemi explained that the agency, working alongside customs and security officers, conducted a thorough examination of the shipments, uncovering the drugs packed in thousands of cartons.
Community Leader at Large as NDLEA Seizes Cannabis from Family
On September 18, NDLEA agents raided two homes in Lagos belonging to a local community leader, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, who remains at large. During the raid, his two wives and son were caught with 226 kilograms of cannabis. The drugs were recovered from Talba’s properties in the Seme Badagry area.
While Talba evaded capture, NDLEA officials discovered compressed blocks of cannabis at both homes, amounting to 168.6 kilograms and 57.6 kilograms. His family members, including his first wife, Asma’u Bashiru, and his second wife, Hauwa Bashir, were apprehended.
Additional Drug-Related Arrests Across Nigeria
In other developments, NDLEA agents made several significant arrests and drug busts across Nigeria. On September 16, officers intercepted 390 kilograms of cannabis in Lagos from a delivery van. Meanwhile, at Kano’s Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, a 38-year-old man was caught attempting to smuggle 1.267 kilograms of cocaine in his stomach on a flight bound for Iran.
Further, in Kogi State, authorities seized 700,000 pills of exol-5 along a major highway, and in Niger State, 49,000 tablets of tramadol were recovered from a suspect. More cannabis was intercepted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Plateau State, where agents apprehended suspects transporting drugs disguised as bags of sugar and fertilizer.
The NDLEA’s ongoing operations reflect its intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking and protect public health in Nigeria.