A major breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against narcotics was recorded at the weekend as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a wanted drug baron, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, also known as Chisco Bee, and seized large quantities of illicit drugs and foreign currency in Lagos.
Ibemesi, 42, who runs his operations under the guise of a businessman and hotelier, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, 15 November 2025, at his Daisy Garden Hotel in Isolo, Lagos, after weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance by the NDLEA Special Operations Unit. He was subsequently taken to his warehouse on Pius Ezeobi Street, where operatives recovered 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of “Loud” — a potent strain of cannabis — weighing 1,762.8 kilograms.
Cash recovered from him at the point of arrest included $11,600, 2,000 British Pounds, 2,200 Euros, and 50 Canadian dollars.
Massive Skunk Seizures in Osun Forest
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives successfully disrupted efforts by a major drug syndicate attempting to distribute 11,135 kilograms of processed skunk from the Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve. Two trucks designated for transportation were seized, and seven suspects were arrested in the operation.
Operations in Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Lagos, Kwara
A series of coordinated raids across Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Kwara states led to additional seizures:
- Edo State: 1,902.1kg of skunk recovered in multiple operations across Orhionmwon, Ovia North East LGAs, and the Benin-Akure road. Two suspects were arrested.
- Ogun State: Four suspects apprehended with 68kg of skunk and 3.150kg of methamphetamine along the Ijebu-Ode expressway.
- Taraba State: Two separate arrests yielded 256kg of skunk.
- Adamawa State: 396,000 tramadol capsules recovered at the Yola Airport.
- Nasarawa State: 785kg of skunk evacuated from the warehouse of a fleeing suspect.
- Lagos State: Multiple arrests resulted in the seizure of over 206kg of “Canadian Loud” and Ghanaian cannabis.
- Kwara State: Two major interceptions led to the confiscation of 98.5kg of skunk and the arrest of two drivers.
NDLEA Sustains WADA Sensitisation Nationwide
Across the country, NDLEA commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, with engagements held in Zamfara, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Enugu, Lagos, and Ogun States.
NDLEA Boss Commends Officers
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the agency’s operatives for their diligence and urged them to maintain the momentum under the agency’s balanced drug control strategy.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying the crackdown on drug trafficking networks nationwide.