NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron in Lagos, Recovers Large Cache of Narcotics, Foreign Currency
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing offensive against drug trafficking, arresting a wanted drug baron and seizing over 14.4 tonnes of illicit drugs in coordinated operations across several states.
The suspect, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, popularly known as Chisco Bee, was apprehended in the early hours of Saturday, 15th November 2025, following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance by the Agency’s Special Operations Unit.
Ibemesi, 42, who operates under the guise of a businessman and hotelier, and serves as MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig Ltd, was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel located on Agbeke Street, Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Lagos.
His arrest led operatives to a warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi Street, where a massive stash of narcotics was uncovered.
According to the NDLEA, 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of “Loud”, a high-grade strain of cannabis, weighing 1,762.8kg, were recovered. Officers also seized foreign currency found in his possession, including $11,600, £2,000, €2,200, and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash.
In a separate major operation, NDLEA operatives stormed the Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve in Ife South LGA of Osun State, preventing a syndicate from distributing a massive consignment of processed cannabis. The haul, weighing 11,135kg, was intercepted after days of surveillance.
Two trucks – a Volvo (WWR 29 XA) and a Mercedes (AWK 713 YZ) – used for transporting the drugs were confiscated, while seven suspects were taken into custody. They include Lucky Abiodun, Julius Amos, Victor Ngbikili, Sunday Oduegwu, Ibrahim Akanni, Eze Godstime, and Fred Ifeanyichukwu.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives recovered 1,902.1kg of skunk in a series of raids. These included: 184.1kg discovered along a bush path at Oza/Igbanke Road, Orhionmwon LGA; 672kg evacuated from Utese Forest, Ovia North East LGA; 494kg recovered from a Mercedes Benz (DE311BEN), leading to the arrest of Felix Edah, 45; 552kg seized from another Mercedes Benz (JJJ 56 JW), with Lucky Abagha, 51, arrested
More arrests were made along the Ijebu-Ode Expressway in Ogun State, where four suspects – Micheal Okoh, Offor Agada, Raphael Nkemjika, and Nwabueze Franklin – were apprehended with 68kg of skunk and 3.150kg of methamphetamine.
In Taraba State, Danjuma Tukura, 50, was caught with 172kg of cannabis at Sunkani in Ardo Kola LGA, while Wisdom Titus, 24, was nabbed with 84kg at Takum.
At the Aliyu Mustapha International Airport in Yola, Adamawa State, officers arrested Ahmed Isyaku Nda, 50, in possession of 396,000 tramadol capsules. In Nasarawa State, a major warehouse linked to a fleeing drug dealer was raided, yielding 785kg of skunk.
The Lagos Command recorded more successes with the arrests of Jamiu Kunle Kardoso and Oriyomi Waliu in Surulere with 65.150kg of Canadian Loud, while Taofeek Moraina was arrested in Oyingbo with 141kg of Ghana Loud.
In Kwara State, officers intercepted a truck (T-0262KT) transporting 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565kg, along with 155 cartons of rubber solutions, on the Ilorin–Jebba Expressway.
The driver, Umar Yakubu, was detained for questioning. Another arrest was made at Eiyenkonrin, Ilorin, where Ibrahim Bello was caught with 20 blocks of cannabis concealed in a 50-litre jerry can aboard a commercial bus.
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation efforts across schools, religious centres, and workplaces nationwide. Recent engagements were held at schools in Zamfara, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Enugu, Lagos, and Ogun States, among others.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the officers across the Special Operations Unit and commands in Osun, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Kwara States for their diligence and resilience.
He urged them to remain unwavering in maintaining the Agency’s “balanced approach” to drug control, combining rigorous enforcement with sustained public sensitisation.
The press statement was signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, 16th November 2025.
