Metro

NDLEA Arrests Suspected Drug Baron, Seizes Over 14,000kg Skunk In Osun

Published

6 months ago

November 16, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected drug baron, Frank Ibemesi, also known as Chisco Bee, following weeks of surveillance on his activities.

Ibemesi, 42, identified as the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig. Ltd., was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, November 15, 2025, at his Daisy Garden Hotel on Agbeke Street, Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Lagos.

A statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said he was later taken to a warehouse on Pius Ezeobi Street, also in Ago Palace Way, where officers recovered 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of “loud,” a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,762.8 kilograms.

He said cash recovered from him at the point of arrest included $11,600, £2,000, €2,200, and 50 Canadian dollars.

“A wanted drug baron who operates under the cover of a businessman and hotelier, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, alias Chisco Bee, has been arrested by operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the NDLEA after weeks of intelligence and surveillance on his criminal activities.

“The 42-year-old Ibemesi, who is 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, 2025, after which he was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi Street, off Ago Palace Way, Isolo, where 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,762.8 kilograms, were recovered.

“Also seized from him at the point of arrest were $11,600; 2,000 British pounds; 2,200 euros; and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash,” the statement partly read.

In a separate operation in Osun State, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives disrupted a drug syndicate at Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo Forest Reserve in Ife South Local Government Area on Tuesday, November 11.

According to him, the operatives seized 11,135 kilograms of processed skunk and arrested seven suspects.

“Operatives, after days of surveillance in the forest, seized 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, and arrested seven suspects. Those in custody in connection with the seizure are Lucky Abiodun; Julius Amos; Victor Ngbikili; Sunday Oduegwu; Ibrahim Akanni; Eze Godstime; and Fred Ifeanyichukwu,” he said.

In Edo State, Babafemi said officers recovered a total of 1,902.1 kilograms of skunk in separate operations.

These, according to him, included 184.1kg on Oza–Igbanke Road on Thursday, November 13; 672kg from Utese Forest on Friday, November 14; and 494kg from a Mercedes-Benz (DE311BEN) on the Benin–Akure Road, where 45-year-old Felix Edah was arrested.

He added that another suspect, Lucky Abagha, 51, was arrested with 552kg of skunk in a Mercedes-Benz.

“While four suspects — Micheal Okoh, Offor Agada, Raphael Nkemjika and Nwabueze Franklin — were arrested with 68kg of skunk and 3.150kg of methamphetamine along the Ijebu-Ode Expressway in Ogun State, Danjuma Tukura, 50, was nabbed with 172kg of skunk at Sunkani, Ardo-Kola LGA, Taraba State, on Friday, November 14, and Wisdom Titus, 24, with 84kg of the same substance at Takum area of the state,” he added.

In Adamawa State, Babafemi said 396,000 capsules of tramadol were seized from 50-year-old Ahmed Isyaku Nda at the Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola, on Friday, November 14.

“Another 785kg of skunk was recovered from a warehouse in Asob Maraba Karu, Nasarawa State. The owner of the warehouse is currently at large,” he added.

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

The vehicle, according to him, was conveying 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565kg and 155 cartons of rubber solutions.

“The truck driver, Umar Yakubu, was taken into custody. In another operation, a commercial bus with registration number KJA-657CY was intercepted at Eiyenkorin, Ilorin, on Wednesday, November 12, with 20 blocks of skunk concealed in a 50-litre jerrycan, and the driver, Ibrahim Bello, was arrested,” Babafemi said.

The PUNCH reported that the agency on Tuesday intercepted a shipment of cocaine valued at over $235m (about N338bn) at the PTML Terminal of the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.

The agency said it has launched a joint investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency to identify those behind the importation of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine.

(PUNCH)

Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.

Metro

Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Two grandfathers, aged 83 and 78, are among several suspects apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a fresh nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.

Pa John Ofiel, 83, was arrested on Tuesday, 28 April during a raid in the Aba region of Abia State.

The NDLEA said that operatives acting on credible intelligence recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis already packaged into retail sachets.

The octogenarian, who claimed to be a professional shoemaker allegedly confessed to delving into the illicit trade.

In Ekiti State on Thursday 30 April 78 year old Ogunjobi Samuel was detained at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti where officers seized 350 grams of cannabis from him, identifying him as a local peddler.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, (CCEO), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the various state commands for their drug supply reduction efforts.

He urged officers to maintain the current momentum, balancing enforcement with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
The enforcement drive also led to the arrest of a notorious drug dealer in Oyo State Taofik Adeyemi, 49.

He was apprehended on Saturday, 2 May, at his residence in Ibadan after months of evading the authorities.

He was caught alongside his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085kg of cannabis and a getaway vehicle.

Across other states, the NDLEA recorded significant seizures including over 140,000 pills and capsules of Tramadol intercepted in separate operations targeting transit routes from Damaturu to Hadejia.

A raid on Awolowo Market in Mushin area of Lagos state resulted in the recovery of 740kg of cannabis while in Kaduna, two suspects were caught on the Abuja-Jos highway with 290kg of compressed cannabis concealed in a Honda Ridgeline.

A 65-year-old driver was intercepted at the Ile-Ife toll gate in Osun state conveying skunk and methamphetamine, leading to a follow up arrest of the consignment’s owner in Ilesha.

In line with it’s mandate, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding enlightenment lectures for students, Islamic schools, and commercial motorcyclists in Niger, Kano, Anambra, and Lagos states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the agency remains committed to “cleansing the streets” of both notorious distributors and those who use age as a shield for criminal activity.