Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have achieved significant breakthroughs in their ongoing operations against drug trafficking and cartels. The agency announced the successful capture of two wanted drug lords, Hakeem Babatunde Salami and Okafor Ikechukwu Williams, as well as the arrest of two traffickers who ingested large quantities of illicit drugs.
Hakeem Babatunde Salami, a key figure in the “Tajudeen Babatunde Abioye Transnational Criminal Organisation,” was taken into custody on October 10 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. He was involved in a multi-billion-naira trade of narcotics, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ephedrine, spanning across Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe. After escaping to South Africa following the arrest of a syndicate member, Salami was located through a partnership with South African authorities and other intelligence mechanisms. Several of his luxury vehicles were seized, and his residence in Surulere, Lagos, has been sealed. Other members of the cartel, including Suleiman Babatunde Oba and Godwin Edet Mathew, are already in custody.
Okafor Ikechukwu Williams, also known as “Jantu,” and his wife, Okafor Ifeyinwa Grace, were apprehended on October 5 in Lagos. During a raid on their hideout, NDLEA operatives discovered 27.566 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in a blue box and two sacks, intended for export to Europe and Asia. Their Lexus RX350 vehicle was also seized.
In another operation, Nwafor Ejiogu Charles was arrested at Abuja Airport while attempting to board a flight to Doha. A body scan revealed that he had ingested cocaine, and he subsequently excreted 75 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.653 kilograms. Charles attempted to bribe an NDLEA officer with $3,000 to secure his release.
Lastly, another trafficker, Nwufo Charles Okwudili, was arrested at Abuja Airport while attempting to board a flight to Paris, France, via Frankfurt, Germany. A body scan revealed that he had ingested 96 wraps of heroin with a total weight of 1.413 kilograms.
These operations mark a significant victory for NDLEA in its fight against drug trafficking and criminal networks involved in the illicit drug trade. The arrests and drug seizures demonstrate the agency’s dedication to curbing drug-related crimes and protecting the nation from the dangers of narcotics.