The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested the chairman and chief executive officer of Trans Fortress Global Resources for alleged illicit drug business.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, said in a statement on Sunday that the suspect had been on the agency’s watchlist since 2025 following credible intelligence.

Mr Babafemi said the 57-year-old drug kingpin was arrested at his Safe Court Apartment residence in Ikate, Lekki, Lagos, on Thursday, February 12, following sustained surveillance after his return from the United Kingdom.

He said a search of his residence led to the recovery of four large bags containing parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis with a total weight of 89.20kg.

“Also recovered from him at the point of his arrest was a 2024 model Toyota Hilux.

“In his statement, he claimed he got involved in the illicit drug trade after financing some consignments for his overseas associate.

“He said hundreds of millions of naira paid to him as profit by his associate motivated him to establish his own independent drug distribution channel,” Mr Babafemi said.

In another interdiction operation in Lagos, the NDLEA spokesman said a suspect was nabbed with 56kg of skunk at Agbara on Thursday, February 19.

Mr Babafemi said another suspected drug trafficker was caught with 76kg of the same substance at a motor park in Oshodi on Tuesday, February 17.

Meanwhile, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, Mr Babafemi said 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup were discovered in a container.

He said this was during a joint examination of the shipment by NDLEA officers, customs and other security agencies.

“The request by NDLEA for a 100 per cent physical examination and search of the container followed processed intelligence on the shipment,” he said.

Mr Babafemi said the NDLEA chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa commended officers and men of the Lagos command of the agency for the arrests and seizures.

Mr Marwa said their operational successes, and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, were well appreciated.

(NAN)