Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former councillor in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos, Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, over alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking.
Olalekan, 45, who previously served two terms as councillor representing Orimedu community and currently works as a legislative aide, was arrested on Monday, March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki. During a search of his home, NDLEA operatives recovered 40 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, hidden in one of the rooms.
He reportedly admitted ownership of both the drugs and the property.
In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, March 3, intercepted a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba in Abuja. A search of his luggage uncovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg concealed inside baby diapers. He confessed to transporting the drugs to Guduwa village in Gurara LGA of Niger State.
Also on March 3, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kabba/Obajana highway in Kogi State intercepted a 36-year-old Cameroonian, Mey Ali Muhamat, travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon. Officers discovered 1.55kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed inside a standing fan carton.
In Niger State, operatives on patrol along the Mokwa-Jebba road on Wednesday, March 4, intercepted a commercial bus from Ibadan carrying 500 improvised explosive device (IED) components hidden in a sack and meant for delivery at Pelegi. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Mashegu LGA.
Further operations across the country led to multiple arrests and seizures. In Yola, Adamawa State, officers recovered 122,000 tramadol pills and 700 grams of methamphetamine hidden in a truck transporting cartons of local drinks. In Kano, a suspect identified as Muhammed Ali, 20, was arrested with 11,283 tramadol pills.
In Ogun State, operatives raided Ogere and arrested two suspects with 46kg of skunk, while in Delta State, two suspects were apprehended in Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63kg of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Edo State arrested two suspects at Egbisi forest in Uhumwonde LGA, where 1,910.25kg of skunk was destroyed on two farms. Another suspect was arrested in Ikhin town, Owan East LGA, with 176.50kg of the same substance.
Meanwhile, the agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres and communities nationwide.
Commending the efforts of officers across several commands, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, urged personnel to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts across the country.