NDLEA Nabs Pastor, Wife for Drug Trafficking

NDLEA Nabs Pastor, Wife for Drug Trafficking

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a pastor and his wife for alleged drug trafficking, as part of a series of coordinated operations that led to multiple seizures and arrests across the country.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, detailing how officers uncovered illicit drugs hidden in unusual consignments, including tins of palm kernel oil bound for the United Kingdom.

According to the statement, the pastor in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach, Sakpo area of Seme border in Lagos State, Afolabi Hodonu, and his wife, Success Hodonu, were arrested on April 2 at the Gbaji checkpoint.

NDLEA said a search of their Honda Pilot SUV led to the recovery of 11 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in hidden compartments of the vehicle.

Their arrest followed the earlier apprehension of a suspected fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, who was caught at the same checkpoint with 24.5 kilogrammes of skunk.

In a related development, NDLEA operatives dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate involved in concealing cocaine in tins of palm kernel extract for export to the UK.

The breakthrough began on March 11 when officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, intercepted 3.10 kilogrammes of cocaine at the export shed.

Babafemi said, “The illicit substance was meticulously hidden inside tins of palm kernel extract intended for shipment to the UK.”

Two suspects linked to the shipment, Idris Olayiwola Amoo and Akinlami Akinsoji Adedoyin, were arrested, while a follow-up sting operation led to the arrest of the sender, Ezemuwo Joel, who allegedly used a false identity.

The operation eventually exposed the kingpin of the syndicate, 52-year-old King Arinze, who was arrested at his hideout in Isolo, Lagos. A raid on his warehouse led to the recovery of 886 tins prepared for drug concealment, industrial tools and a quantity of cannabis. He reportedly confessed to draining the oil from the tins to conceal cocaine.

In Borno State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 28-year-old woman, Aisha Adamu, allegedly supplying drugs to bandits operating between Nigeria’s North-East and neighbouring Chad. She was arrested with 4.3 kilogrammes of Colorado along the Gamboru Ngala road.

Other operations across the country led to significant seizures, including 48,000 tramadol pills intercepted in Adamawa State, large quantities of skunk recovered in Ondo, Osun, Edo and Oyo states, and multiple arrests of suspected traffickers.

Reacting to the successes, NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers for their efforts, noting that the agency remains resolute in dismantling drug networks.

“These successful operations are a testament to the Agency’s evolving intelligence capabilities and our unwavering commitment to choking the supply lines of drug cartels. Whether they hide behind legitimate businesses, religious titles, or complex concealment methods, we will find them,” Marwa said.

He also praised NDLEA commands nationwide for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction through sustained advocacy under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.