Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a pastor and his wife for drug trafficking, as part of a sweeping crackdown that dismantled a major cocaine syndicate operating across Nigeria.
The arrests, confirmed in a statement issued on April 5, 2026, by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, followed a series of intelligence-led operations spanning multiple states.
Among those apprehended were the pastor in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach, Badagry, Afolabi Hodonu, 45, and his wife, Success Hodonu, 35, who were arrested on April 2 at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Seme border.
A search of their vehicle led to the recovery of 11 kilograms of skunk concealed in hidden compartments.
The couple’s arrest followed the earlier interception of a suspected fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, who was caught with 24.5 kilograms of skunk along the same route on March 30.
In a separate high-profile operation, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, uncovered a cocaine trafficking ring that concealed illicit drugs inside tins of palm kernel extract bound for the United Kingdom.
The agency said, “The breakthrough began on Wednesday 11th March 2026, when NDLEA officers… intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine… hidden inside tins of palm kernel extract intended for shipment to the UK.”
Two suspects, Idris Olayiwola Amoo and Akinlami Akinsoji Adedoyin, were arrested at the airport, while a follow-up sting operation on April 2 led to the arrest of the sender, Ezemuwo Joel, who operated under a false identity.
Investigations further exposed the kingpin of the syndicate, 52-year-old King Arinze, who was arrested at his hideout in Isolo, Lagos.
At his warehouse, NDLEA operatives recovered 886 tins prepared for drug concealment, alongside tools used for the operation.
“Arinze has since confessed to personally draining the oil from the tins to conceal the cocaine,” the statement said.
Beyond Lagos, the agency recorded multiple arrests and seizures nationwide.
In Borno State, a 28-year-old woman, Aisha Adamu, was arrested on April 1 with 4.3 kilograms of Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, allegedly meant for supply to bandits operating across the North-East and Chad.
In Adamawa, NDLEA officers intercepted a truck conveying 48,000 tramadol pills, leading to the arrest of the driver and the intended recipient.
Other operations across Osun, Ondo, Edo, Benue, and Oyo states led to the recovery of large quantities of illicit drugs, including over 1,300 kilograms of skunk in Edo and 351 kilograms in Ondo forests.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers for the successful operations and reiterated the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug networks.
“These successful operations are a testament to the Agency’s evolving intelligence capabilities and our unwavering commitment to choking the supply lines of drug cartels,” he said.
“Whether they hide behind legitimate businesses, religious titles, or complex concealment methods, we will find them,” Marwa added.
The agency also noted that its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns continued across schools and communities nationwide as part of efforts to curb drug demand.
