The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a major family-run drug network in Lagos, arresting a businessman, his wife, two daughters, and a close associate in a coordinated sting operation.
The suspects were taken into custody after being linked to the distribution of over 500 kilograms of cannabis, known locally as skunk.
This was confirmed on Sunday in a statement by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who said the operation followed intelligence received by the agency.
According to the NDLEA, Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, were initially apprehended on June 13 by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the Ojo area of Lagos.
They were handed over to the NDLEA along with 277.5 kilograms of skunk.
“The couple was first arrested on Friday 13th June by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Ojo area of the state and transferred to NDLEA along with 277.5kg skunk,” the statement read.
However, Babafemi noted that the investigation did not end there.
While the couple was still in custody, NDLEA received credible intelligence that drug activities were still ongoing at their residence.
This led to a follow-up raid on July 1, during which 231 kilograms of the same substance were recovered.
“While they were still being investigated in custody, credible intelligence revealed that the family business was happening in his house. This led to a raid… where 231kg of the same substance was recovered on Tuesday 1st July,” the agency said.
Three others were arrested during the second operation Stella Uchenna and Ngozi Uchenna, the couple’s daughters, and a family friend, Okoro Elijah, all of whom were reportedly handling the illegal business while the parents were detained.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation, NDLEA operatives uncovered cocaine hidden inside lipsticks and property documents intended for shipment to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
These drugs were intercepted at a courier company on July 3 by the agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation.
Furthermore, another bust at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport exposed 52 pieces of travellers’ cheques worth 17.7 million Australian dollars concealed in children’s books.
The illicit consignment was destined for Malaysia via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines.
“The travellers’ cheques are suspected to be counterfeit and the suspect will be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation,” Babafemi stated.
A freight agent identified as Bolarinwa Saheed has since been arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.
This wave of arrests and seizures highlights NDLEA’s intensified crackdown on drug trafficking and financial crimes within and beyond Nigeria.
The agency continues to urge citizens to report suspicious activities as part of efforts to disrupt drug syndicates and prevent further criminal exploitation of families and communities.
