 have arrested a pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC)){kind=link}
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a pastor of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Agonvi Sea Beach, located in the Seme Border area of Badagry, Lagos State, alongside his wife, over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
According to a statement issued by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the couple—identified as Afolabi Hodonu (45) and his wife, Success Hodonu (35)—were apprehended at the Gbaji checkpoint. A search of their Honda Pilot SUV led to the discovery of 11 kilograms of skunk concealed within hidden compartments of the vehicle.
Their arrest came shortly after NDLEA operatives intercepted another suspect, Sunday Samuel, who allegedly posed as a security agent while transporting 24.5 kilograms of skunk from the Seme Border into Lagos.
In a separate operation, the agency uncovered and dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking network following a three-week intelligence-driven investigation. The breakthrough occurred at the export section of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, where 3.10 kilograms of cocaine hidden in tins of palm kernel extract destined for the United Kingdom were intercepted.
Two suspects linked to the shipment were immediately arrested, leading to further operations that exposed the syndicate’s structure. The alleged sender, Ezemuwo Joel—who reportedly used a false identity—was later apprehended, providing crucial information that led to the arrest of the group’s leader, King Arinze, at his hideout in Isolo, Lagos.
A subsequent raid on Arinze’s warehouse uncovered 886 tins prepared for drug concealment, along with equipment such as sealing machines and tin openers. Authorities also recovered cannabis and other materials used in packaging illicit substances. Investigators say Arinze admitted to extracting palm oil from the tins to hide cocaine.
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives in Borno State arrested 28-year-old Aisha Adamu along the Gamboru Ngala Road for allegedly supplying drugs to bandit groups operating in the North-East and parts of Chad. She was reportedly found with 4.3 kilograms of Colorado, a potent synthetic cannabis variant.
In Adamawa State, officials intercepted a trailer carrying 48,000 tramadol pills, leading to the arrest of the driver and the intended recipient. Additional operations across Osun, Ondo, Edo, Oyo, and Benue states resulted in multiple arrests and significant seizures of illicit drugs, including large quantities of skunk and tramadol capsules.
Notably, in Ibadan, a suspected drug dealer, Ayantola Omodunmomi, was arrested following intelligence reports alleging she used her underage daughter to distribute narcotics. Authorities recovered over 45 kilograms of skunk from her premises.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitisation programmes in schools across several states to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
The NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations, praising their efforts in disrupting drug supply chains and strengthening enforcement nationwide. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking, warning that offenders would be pursued regardless of their status or methods of concealment.