The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking by seizing 589 bags of Canadian loud, a highly potent strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 417.3 kilograms and carrying a street value estimated at a staggering N1,042,500,000. The major operation took place after agents raided a hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, which had been operating as a front for large-scale drug distribution activities.
The successful operation was disclosed in a detailed statement released on Sunday, April 27, 2025, by Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja. According to Babafemi, the massive recovery was the result of an extensive and thorough search conducted across an 80-room, five-storey hotel complex identified as The Hook Hotel, also known as Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge. This property is located at 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street, within the bustling commercial hub of Victoria Island.
During the raid, NDLEA operatives apprehended three individuals who have been identified as Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh. The arrests took place over the course of a two-day operation that spanned Friday, April 25, through Saturday, April 26, 2025. In addition to the arrests, authorities revealed that two other key suspects, Noble Philip and his associate Kenneth, managed to evade capture and are currently on the run. Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend them.
Aside from the enormous cannabis seizure, the NDLEA also uncovered a cache of valuable items believed to have been acquired through proceeds from the illegal drug trade. The seized assets include multiple high-end vehicles such as a Toyota Prado Landcruiser Jeep (registration: Lagos AKD 472 OZ), a Toyota Sienna minivan (registration: Lagos KJA 79 HJ), a Volkswagen Delivery Van (registration: Lagos AAA 525 JE), a Kia Ceranto sedan (registration: Lagos BDG 860 GQ), and a Grand Caravan Dodge (registration: Lagos APP 847 YF).
Furthermore, during the extensive search, operatives discovered household appliances and electronics, including 74 brand-new TV sets, 10 used TV sets, and 13 refrigerators among other items. These findings suggest that the suspects were engaged in laundering the proceeds of their drug activities through the purchase and resale of high-value goods.
The NDLEA emphasized that this latest operation showcases the agency’s unwavering commitment to intensifying the war against drug trafficking networks, particularly those that attempt to disguise their operations under the cover of legitimate businesses. The agency reaffirmed its determination to dismantle such criminal enterprises and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.