Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former councillor in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State after recovering 40 kilograms of skunk from his residence.
The suspect, Sheleru Olalekan, 45, who previously served two terms representing the Orimedu community in the local government council, was apprehended on March 2, 2026, at his home in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki.
According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, a search conducted at the residence led to the discovery of the large quantity of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, hidden in one of the rooms in the building.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted ownership of both the drugs and the property where they were found.
Authorities also noted that Olalekan currently works as a legislative aide following his tenure as councillor.
In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, who was travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba, Abuja.
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A search of his luggage uncovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg concealed inside baby diapers. The suspect reportedly confessed that the drugs were meant for delivery to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he operates a provision store.
Further operations across the country also led to several arrests and seizures. On the Kabba–Obajana highway in Kogi State, NDLEA officers intercepted a commercial bus carrying 1.55kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain, hidden inside a carton containing a standing fan.
The drugs were linked to a 36-year-old Cameroonian national, Mey Ali Muhamat, who was travelling from Lagos en route to Cameroon.
In Niger State, operatives intercepted a commercial vehicle along the Mokwa–Jebba road transporting 500 components used in assembling improvised explosive devices concealed in a sack.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the suspected recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Mashegu Local Government Area.
Additional raids in different states also yielded significant seizures. In Adamawa State, NDLEA officers recovered 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the false bottom of a truck conveying cartons of local drinks.
Similar operations in Kano State, Ogun State and Delta State resulted in multiple arrests and the recovery of large quantities of illicit drugs including tramadol, codeine-based syrup and skunk.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives destroyed over 1.9 tonnes of skunk on cannabis farms discovered in Uhumwonde Local Government Area of Edo State, where several suspects were also taken into custody.
Reacting to the operations, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across the affected state commands for the successful arrests and seizures.
He urged them to remain committed to the agency’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking and abuse across the country.
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