The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a convicted cocaine trafficker who allegedly returned to the drug trade after serving a five-year prison sentence.

The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu, was arrested in Lagos while allegedly operating as a herbal tea businessman, according to the agency.

The arrest followed an investigation into a 1.2kg cocaine shipment concealed in phone chargers and destined for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. NDLEA officers intercepted the consignment at a courier company in Lagos on 31 July.

The agency said the latest operation formed part of a coordinated crackdown across nine states, during which officers also seized large quantities of cannabis, tramadol, methamphetamine and other controlled substances.

Suspect allegedly changed identity after conviction

According to the NDLEA, Ebubechukwu was first arrested in 2011 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after allegedly ingesting 900g of cocaine and 130g of heroin while attempting to travel to Austria.

He was prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to five years in prison, the agency said.

The NDLEA said he later changed his name and allegedly returned to drug trafficking.

Investigators tracked him down following the interception of the Saudi Arabia-bound cocaine shipment. He was arrested during a sting operation at Article Market, opposite Trade Fair Market, in the Ojo area of Lagos, on Friday 4 September.

The agency said he admitted masterminding some previous drug shipments and told investigators that he discarded his telephone SIM card after learning that the latest consignment had been intercepted.

A search of his home in Ejigbo, Lagos, allegedly uncovered phone chargers similar to those used to conceal the cocaine, with their internal components removed to create space for drugs.

“Traffickers who believe they can reinvent themselves under new identities or legitimate business fronts will continue to be tracked down.”

— NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd)

Also Read: Ogun So-Safe Corps Arrests 34-year-old Over Alleged Burglary, Attempted Rape

More than 2 million opioid pills seized

The Lagos operation was part of a wider series of seizures announced by the NDLEA.

At Lagos airport, officers recovered 966,200 tablets of tramadol 225mg, which the agency valued at more than ₦1.1bn.

The tablets were concealed among thrift trousers in a 21-carton shipment from Pakistan, according to the NDLEA.

Officers also recovered 57.8kg of Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, hidden among cartons of disposable hand gloves in a shipment from Singapore.

The agency said the consignment had remained unclaimed for weeks before it was examined jointly by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies.

In Adamawa, officers recovered 864,000 opioid pills, mainly tramadol, from a residence linked to a fleeing suspect, Patrick KC Frank.

The agency said Frank’s Honda Civic rammed an NDLEA patrol vehicle before he escaped.

Another suspect, Calistus Ebubechukwu, 35, was arrested in Michika with 2kg of methamphetamine, according to the NDLEA.

Fuel tanker allegedly modified to hide cannabis

One of the largest seizures occurred along the Akoko-Lokoja expressway in Ondo State.

NDLEA officers pursued a 20,000-litre fuel tanker marked MKA 960 XC after its driver allegedly refused to stop.

The driver later abandoned the tanker at a church premises in Ugbe Akoko and fled into nearby bush, the agency said.

A search allegedly revealed a concealed compartment containing 165 bags of cannabis weighing 2,145kg, alongside the legitimate fuel cargo reportedly destined for Jos, Plateau State.

The discovery highlights the methods authorities say traffickers use to conceal illicit drugs within apparently legitimate commercial supply chains.

Cannabis-laced cookies seized at Lagos port

The NDLEA also reported another major seizure at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.

Officers intercepted 598.08kg, equivalent to 890 packets, of cannabis-laced cookies and gummies in a 40-foot container on Wednesday 2 September.

The agency said the shipment was linked to three suspects already in custody following the earlier seizure of 842.54kg of cannabis-laced cookies.

Those suspects were identified as Yashim Dauji, Larry Ifeanyi and Joseph Moji.

Seizures recorded across several states

The crackdown extended beyond Lagos.

In Lagos, the NDLEA reported recovering 2,386.9kg of cannabis, 350g of cocaine, more than 100kg of assorted tramadol, 9.7 litres of codeine syrup and 4kg of Rohypnol at Gbaji.

Two suspects, Damilare Francis and Emeh Emmanuel, were also arrested with 720kg of cannabis in Agbara.

In Kogi State, three suspects — Saidu Mustapha, 35; Zaharadeen Salisu, 29; and AbdulSalam Abdullahi, 25 — were arrested with 636kg of cannabis allegedly concealed in chicken manure on a bus travelling from Ondo State towards Jos.

In Taraba, the agency said 58-year-old Kelechi Unachukwu was arrested with more than 109kg of assorted controlled medicines, including tramadol, diazepam, pentazocine, phenobarbital and pregabalin.

The drugs were allegedly being transported from Onitsha in Anambra State to Yola in Adamawa State.

Kaduna officers separately intercepted a cement truck along the Zaria-Kano expressway and recovered 1,179kg of cannabis, according to the agency.

In Ekiti, NDLEA officers destroyed a four-hectare cannabis farm in Efon-Alaaye forest and recovered 117kg of harvested cannabis. Two suspects were arrested.

In Enugu, a 20-year-old suspect, Obinna David, was arrested at Ugbema Junction with 40,590 capsules of tramadol, the agency said.

NDLEA links operations to wider anti-drug campaign

The agency said its enforcement activities were accompanied by its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign.

According to the NDLEA, officers conducted awareness programmes for nursing mothers and nurses in Ogun, young people in Abia and staff and concessionaires working at an NLNG terminal in Rivers State, among others.

NDLEA Chairman Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) praised officers involved in the operations and urged them to maintain what he described as a balanced approach to drug control.

He said the latest arrests showed that suspects attempting to continue trafficking through new identities or legitimate businesses would still be pursued.

The NDLEA’s allegations have not been tested in court, and the suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Why it matters

The seizures illustrate the scale and variety of drug trafficking methods being targeted by Nigerian authorities — from international courier shipments and port containers to modified fuel tankers and road transport.

The involvement of commercial consignments also underscores the challenge facing law-enforcement agencies in distinguishing legitimate trade from illicit shipments hidden within the supply chain.

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, known as So-Safe Corps, says it has arrested a 34-year-old man over an alleged burglary, theft and attempted sexual assault at Onimalu Cooperative CDA, along Ilogbo Road, Ogun State.

The suspect, identified as Remilekun Peter, was later handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation, according to the agency.

So-Safe Corps said the incident happened at about 3am on Thursday, 3 September 2026, after residents reportedly heard a woman calling for help.

How the incident allegedly happened

According to a statement issued by the State Commander, Cmdr (Dr) Soji Ganzallo, the Chairman of the Cooperative CDA, Tajudeen Adedeji, alerted the area’s So-Safe Corps Division Officer, SC Bakare Gafar.

The agency said residents subsequently rushed to the scene, where they allegedly saw Peter chasing a woman, identified as Mrs Omolara Oluwakemi, while carrying a pair of scissors.

A security officer on duty intervened and apprehended the suspect, the statement said.

So-Safe Corps said the woman later alleged that the suspect had entered her residence and taken a television, fans and other household appliances.

She further alleged that after removing the items, the suspect produced a pair of scissors and attempted to sexually assault her.

The woman reportedly escaped and raised an alarm, attracting residents to the area.

“The victim alleged that the suspect entered her residence at about 3am and removed her television, fans, and other household appliances.”

Suspect handed over to police

The agency said a search of the suspect reportedly led to the recovery of a condom.

So-Safe Corps subsequently handed Peter, the alleged victim and the complainant, Tajudeen Adedeji, over to officers at the Onipanu Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.

The police are expected to investigate the allegations and determine whether there is sufficient evidence for further legal action.

The suspect has not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations against him remain subject to investigation.

Also Read: NSCDC Calls for Intelligence-led Protection of Nigeria’s Critical Infrastructure

So-Safe Corps praises residents

The State Commander commended members of the community and the Divisional Officer for responding quickly after the distress call.

The Corps also urged residents to report suspicious activities and emergencies promptly to security agencies.

It said its intervention was part of its responsibility to protect lives and property across Ogun State.

What happens next?

The case has now moved to the Nigeria Police Force, which will conduct further investigation.

The police investigation will be important in establishing what happened and determining whether criminal charges should follow.

For residents, the incident also highlights the importance of community vigilance and promptly reporting emergencies, particularly during the night.

Police in Ogun State have arrested five suspects in connection with separate shop-breaking incidents in the Ado-Odo area and recovered stolen goods, according to the state police command.

The arrests include four teenagers, while another 14-year-old was also arrested in an earlier incident after police said he provided a key used to gain access to a market shop.

The police said the suspects were apprehended following reports from community members and the intervention of local security personnel.

Three teenagers arrested after market break-in

The first incident happened at about 3:30am on 2 September, when community members alerted police after a watchman noticed suspicious movements inside a market stall.

Patrol officers deployed to the scene arrested two teenagers, identified by police as 15-year-old Lateef Kalid and 16-year-old Kareem Jamal.

The police said stolen foodstuffs and other items were recovered from the shop.

During questioning, the two allegedly led investigators to 14-year-old Sofiu Alabi, who police said admitted providing the key used to enter the premises.

The three suspects have been charged to court, according to the police.

Two more teenagers arrested

In a separate incident on 4 September, personnel of the So-Safe Corps apprehended two teenagers, identified as 16-year-old Taofik Abioro and 15-year-old Ogundele Monday.

They were subsequently handed over to police detectives for investigation.

Police said preliminary questioning indicated that the two allegedly admitted involvement in several shop burglaries across Ado-Odo.

Searches of their premises also led to the recovery of additional items believed to have been stolen, the command said.

The case has been referred for further investigation, while police said efforts were continuing to locate another suspected accomplice.

Police praise community cooperation

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended officers at the Ado-Odo Division for what he described as their swift response.

He also praised the So-Safe Corps and members of the local community for working with the police.

“Collaborative stakeholder engagement remains vital to disrupting criminal networks.”

CP Ojajuni urged parents, guardians and community leaders to pay closer attention to young people’s activities and discourage them from becoming involved in crime.

He also called on business owners to strengthen basic security around their shops and report suspicious activity promptly.

Also Read: Eze: Rivers Residents Rejected Alleged Attempt to Overshadow Amaechi’s Mother’s Burial 

Why the arrests matter

The arrests highlight the role of community reporting and cooperation between formal and local security structures in responding to property crime.

They also raise concerns about the involvement of teenagers in alleged burglary incidents and the need for parents, schools, community leaders and security agencies to address the factors that may draw young people into crime.

The allegations against the suspects have not been independently tested in court, and they remain entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

What business owners can do

The police advised shop owners and other business operators to improve basic security around their premises and remain alert to unusual activity.

The command also encouraged residents to report suspected criminal activity through its emergency channels.

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