JUST IN: NDLEA Arrests Ex-Lagos Councillor With 40kg of Cannabis Hidden in Home

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former councillor in Lagos State after a large quantity of illegal drugs was discovered inside his residence.

The suspect, identified as Sheleru Sadiq, was apprehended during an operation carried out by anti-narcotics officers in the Orimedu area of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.

According to the agency, the arrest followed intelligence that led operatives to the suspect’s home where a search was conducted.

The spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the development in a statement released on Sunday.

He said Sadiq was taken into custody on March 2 after officers uncovered a stash of illegal substances concealed inside one of the rooms in his residence.

During the search, the operatives recovered about 40 kilograms of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis, hidden within the property.

Investigators said the former lawmaker allegedly admitted to owning both the seized drugs and the building where the illicit items were discovered.

“In his statement, Sheleru admitted ownership of the exhibit and the property where it was recovered,” the NDLEA spokesperson said.

“He said he had previously served two terms as a councillor representing Orimedu community in Ibeju-Lekki local government council.”

The agency further revealed that Sadiq currently works as a legislative aide.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA reported a number of other arrests made in separate operations across different parts of the country as part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal drug trafficking.

In one of the cases, operatives arrested a 32-year-old businessman identified as Emeka Hyginus Okwor. He was caught with 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg carefully hidden inside baby diapers.

During interrogation, Okwor reportedly told officers he was transporting the drugs to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he operates a provision store.

In another operation along the Kabba-Obajana highway in Kogi State, officers arrested a 36-year-old Cameroonian national, Mey Ali Muhamat, who was found with a shipment of Colorado, a potent form of cannabis.

NDLEA officers also intercepted suspicious items during a patrol along the Mokwa-Jebba road in Niger State.

A commercial bus travelling from Ibadan in Oyo State was stopped after officers discovered 500 pieces of improvised explosive device components concealed inside a sack.

Security agents later tracked down and arrested the intended recipient of the package, 21-year-old Osama Abdullahi, in Pelegi area of Mashegu Local Government Area.

Further operations by the agency led to the discovery of 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside the false bottom of a truck transporting cartons of local drinks in Yola, Adamawa State.

In another raid in Kano State, officers arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Muhammed Ali, with 11,283 pills of tramadol.

Similarly, in Ogun State, operatives carried out a raid in the Ogere area where two suspects, Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa, were apprehended with 46 kilograms of skunk.

The NDLEA said the series of arrests reflects its renewed efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and curb the spread of illicit substances across Nigeria.