Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have apprehended Arokodare Ebenezer, a businessman and owner of Damillionz Takeout, over his involvement in smuggling 60 parcels of Loud, a highly potent strain of cannabis, from the United States into Nigeria.
Ebenezer, 43, was taken into custody on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Bay Lounge, Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos, where he was expecting to receive a drug consignment.
The arrest followed an earlier seizure on March 12, when NDLEA officers intercepted seven large cartons of cannabis at a logistics company in Lagos.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest and seizure, stating, “Following his arrest, operatives conducted a search at his residence in Lekki, where they found an additional 94 grams of cannabis, a crusher, and other drug paraphernalia. This brings the total weight of the seized drugs to 32.24 kilograms.”
During questioning, Ebenezer reportedly admitted to being involved in drug trafficking since 2017.
In a related operation, NDLEA officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, intercepted Omoruyi Terry, a businessman attempting to smuggle 1,400 tramadol pills (225mg) weighing 800 grams to Italy via Qatar Airways.
“Omoruyi was caught at the screening point of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport. Our investigation revealed he is a frequent traveler and a logistics agent,” the NDLEA statement noted.
A separate intelligence-led raid in Godai village, Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State, led to the arrest of four suspects: Baraka Abubakar, 40; Haruna Alitine, 23; Muhammad Babangida, 20; and Hamisu Lawal.
NDLEA disclosed, “During the operation on March 28, our officers seized 684 blocks of compressed skunk, weighing 423 kilograms, and 86,000 diazepam pills. The three male suspects were caught repackaging the pills, while Baraka was arrested with large quantities of skunk in her house.”
In Edo State, operatives destroyed cannabis plantations totaling 13,198 kilograms across Uhen Forest in Ovia North East, Sobe in Owan West, and Amahor Forest in Igueben. Additionally, 158 kilograms of cannabis were seized for prosecution.
Drug enforcement efforts in Niger, Enugu, Kwara, and Oyo states also yielded significant seizures.
On March 28, NDLEA intercepted a black Toyota Corolla on the Mokwa-Jebba road, uncovering 77.6 kilograms of compressed cannabis concealed in a false compartment. Two suspects, Paul Christopher, 46, and Lucky Star Anumie, were taken into custody.
Furthermore, a separate operation led to the seizure of 50 kilograms of skunk from the home of a fugitive suspect, Isa Iliya, in Wawa village, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Additional seizures included, 108.5 kilograms of skunk from lock-up shops in Aria New Market, Enugu, 25 kilograms of cannabis from a suspect, Abdulrazak Saka, in Ilorin, Kwara State, 2.5 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud and 515 grams of Colorado from Suli Saheed, 50, in Olomi Academy, Ibadan, Oyo State.
As part of its ongoing War Against Drug Abuse initiative, the NDLEA continued sensitization programs in schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide.
