Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a pastor and his wife after recovering 11 kilograms of skunk concealed in their vehicle at the Seme border in Lagos State.
The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development on Sunday, identifying the suspects as Afolabi Hodonu, 45, of the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach in Badagry, and his wife, Success Hodonu, 35.
Babafemi said the couple was arrested on April 2 at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Seme border while traveling in a Honda Pilot SUV. A search of the vehicle uncovered the illicit substance hidden in specially modified compartments.
He added that the arrest followed earlier intelligence from the interception of another suspect, Sunday Samuel, 35, who was posing as a security agent. Samuel was apprehended on March 30 at the same checkpoint while allegedly transporting 24.5 kilograms of skunk from the border to Lagos.
In a related operation, the NDLEA dismantled a drug trafficking network involved in exporting cocaine to the United Kingdom.
The operation began on March 11 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, where officers intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine concealed in tins of palm kernel extract meant for shipment abroad. Two suspects linked to the consignment, Idris Amoo and Akinlami Adedoyin, were arrested at the airport.
Further investigations led to the arrest of the alleged sender, Ezemuwo Joel, who was reportedly operating under a false identity. His arrest exposed the suspected syndicate leader, King Arinze, 52, who was tracked to a hideout in Isolo, Lagos.
NDLEA operatives later raided a warehouse linked to Arinze at 11, Ola Ifa Street, Bucknor, Isolo, where they recovered 886 tins of palm kernel extract prepared for drug concealment, along with industrial equipment including a sealing machine, tin openers, paint sprays, 52 grams of cannabis sativa, and a pack of hand gloves.
According to Babafemi, Arinze confessed to emptying the palm kernel oil from the tins to conceal cocaine for export.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation in Borno State, NDLEA operatives arrested Aisha Adamu, 28, along the Gamboru-Ngala road. She was allegedly involved in supplying drugs to armed groups operating between Nigeria’s North-East and neighboring Chad.
The agency said 4.3 kilograms of Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, was recovered from her.
