Lagos, Italy-Based Businessmen Arrested Over Drug Shipments To Nigeria And Europe

Lagos, Italy-Based Businessmen Arrested Over Drug Shipments To Nigeria And Europe

Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested Arokodare Ebenezer, a businessman based in Lekki and owner of Damillionz Takeout, for his involvement in the illegal shipment of 60 parcels of Loud, a powerful strain of cannabis, from the United States to Nigeria.

Ebenezer, aged 43, was apprehended on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Bay Lounge in the Lekki area of Lagos while awaiting the arrival of his latest drug consignment. NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest and shared images of the seized drugs on social media.

The arrest followed an earlier seizure on March 12, 2025, when NDLEA operatives intercepted seven large cartons containing the illicit drug at a logistics company in Lagos. Further investigations led to a search of Ebenezer’s home in Lekki, where 94 grams of cannabis, a cannabis crusher, and other drug paraphernalia were found, bringing the total weight of the drugs seized to 32.24 kilograms. Ebenezer admitted that he had been involved in the illicit drug trade since 2017.

In a related operation, NDLEA officers thwarted an attempt by Omoruyi Terry, an Italy-based businessman, to export 1,400 tramadol pills (225 mg), weighing 800 grams, to Italy. Terry was intercepted at the screening point of Terminal 2 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Italy. Terry, a frequent traveler and logistics agent based in Italy, was arrested during the operation…READ MORE…

In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested four suspects—Baraka Abubakar (40), Haruna Alitine (23), Muhammad Babangida (20), and Hamisu Lawal—on March 28, 2025, after an intelligence-led raid at Godai village in Daura Local Government Area. The operation resulted in the seizure of 684 blocks of compressed skunk (423 kg) and 86,000 diazepam pills.

The suspects were arrested while repackaging the diazepam tablets into other containers. Baraka, the female suspect, was found in possession of the compressed skunk.

Additional significant drug seizures were made in various states across Nigeria. In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 13,198 kilograms of cannabis sativa between March 24 and 28, while also recovering 158 kilograms of the substance for potential prosecution.

NDLEA officers also made notable drug busts in Niger, Enugu, Kwara, and Oyo states. In Niger, they seized 77.6 kilograms of compressed cannabis from a Toyota Corolla and 50 kilograms of skunk from a suspect’s residence. In Enugu, 108.5 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a market lockup, and in Kwara, 25 kilograms of cannabis were seized.

As part of its ongoing War Against Drug Abuse initiative, the NDLEA has continued its efforts to raise awareness by delivering lectures in schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the agency’s personnel for their successful operations and emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant in the fight against drug abuse.