The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a pastor, Afolabi Hodonu, and his wife, Success Hodonu, over alleged drug trafficking activities in Lagos State.

The couple, who run a church in the Agonvi Sea Beach area of Sakpo, Seme Border in Badagry, were apprehended on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the Gbaji checkpoint. A search of their Honda Pilot SUV led to the discovery of 11 kilograms of skunk concealed in hidden compartments of the vehicle.

Their arrest followed an earlier operation at the same checkpoint on March 30, where NDLEA operatives intercepted a fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, with 24.5 kilograms of skunk being transported from Seme border to Lagos.

In a related development, the agency dismantled a major drug trafficking syndicate after a three-week operation in Lagos. The breakthrough began on March 11, when officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside tins of palm kernel extract meant for export to the United Kingdom.

Two suspects linked to the shipment, Idris Olayiwola Amoo and Akinlami Akinsoji Adedoyin, were arrested. Further investigations led to the arrest of the sender, Ezemuwo Joel, who operated under a false identity. His confession helped authorities track down the alleged kingpin, King Arinze, who was arrested in the Isolo area of Lagos.

A raid on his warehouse uncovered 886 tins prepared for drug concealment, along with equipment used for packaging. Investigators also recovered a small quantity of cannabis and other materials used in the operation. The suspect reportedly admitted to removing palm kernel oil from the tins to hide cocaine.

Across the country, NDLEA carried out several other operations. In Borno State, a 28-year-old woman, Aisha Adamu, was arrested along Gamboru Ngala Road with 4.3 kilograms of a synthetic cannabis variant known as “Colorado,” allegedly meant for supply to bandit groups.

In Adamawa State, officers intercepted a truck carrying 48,000 tramadol pills along Namtari Road in Yola South. The driver, Abdulaziz Ismail Korede, was arrested, while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, Idris Adamu.

In Osun State, a 60-year-old woman, Idiatu Oladejo, was arrested with 15 kilograms of skunk in Osogbo, while operatives in Ondo State raided a forest in Itaogbolu and recovered 351 kilograms of the substance.

Similarly, 28,600 tramadol capsules were seized from a 66-year-old suspect, Aminu Usman Gembu, in Benue State. In Edo State, NDLEA operatives recovered 1,378 kilograms of skunk from a warehouse in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of a suspect, Roland Owie.

In Oyo State, a suspected drug dealer, Ayantola Omodunmomi, also known as “Iya Elle,” was arrested in Ibadan. Authorities said she used her 11-year-old daughter to distribute drugs. A total of 45.6 kilograms of skunk was recovered from her residence.

The agency also intensified its anti-drug awareness campaigns, conducting sensitisation programmes in schools across Oyo, Lagos, Kano, Anambra, and Zamfara states.

NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across various commands for the successful operations, noting that the agency remains committed to disrupting drug supply networks nationwide.

He stated that the arrests highlight the agency’s growing intelligence capacity and determination to tackle drug trafficking, regardless of the methods or identities used by those involved.