The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a wanted drug baron, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, popularly known as Chisco Bee, and uncovered a major drug warehouse in Lagos, leading to the recovery of a large consignment of cannabis and foreign currencies.
Ibemesi, 42, who operates as a businessman and hotelier, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, November 15, 2025, at his Daisy Garden Hotel located on Agbeke Street, Ago Palace Way, Isolo. According to NDLEA, the arrest followed weeks of surveillance by its Special Operations Unit. Operatives later led him to his warehouse on Pius Ezeobi Street, Isolo, where 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 1,762.8 kilograms, were recovered.
Foreign currencies were also seized from him, including $11,600, 2,000 British Pounds, 2,200 Euros, and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash.
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives successfully disrupted a large drug syndicate operating in the Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve in Ife South LGA. The syndicate had processed 11,135 kilograms of skunk for distribution across the country before the operatives struck on November 11. Two trucks used for transporting the drugs were seized, while seven suspects were arrested.
Similarly, in Edo State, the Agency recovered 1,902.1 kilograms of skunk in various operations between November 13 and 14. These included seizures along Oza/Igbanke road, Utese forest in Ovia North East, and the Benin-Akure highway, resulting in multiple arrests.
In Ogun State, four suspects were apprehended with 68kg of skunk and 3.150kg of methamphetamine along the Ijebu-Ode expressway. Taraba State operatives also arrested two suspects with a combined 256kg of skunk in Ardo Kola and Takum LGAs.
Adamawa Command officers intercepted 396,000 capsules of tramadol from a suspect at Yola Airport, while in Nasarawa, 785kg of skunk was evacuated from a warehouse belonging to a fleeing drug dealer.
In Lagos, two suspects were arrested in Surulere with 65.150kg of Canadian Loud, while another suspect was caught in Oyingbo with 141kg of Ghana Loud.
Kwara Command operatives intercepted a truck along the Ilorin-Jebba expressway carrying 78.565kg of skunk and cartons of rubber solutions, while a separate operation led to the arrest of a commercial vehicle driver with 20 blocks of skunk concealed in a jerry can.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts in schools, religious centres and communities. Awareness lectures were held in institutions across Zamfara, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Enugu, Lagos and Ogun States.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the various commands and units involved in the operations. He urged officers to maintain the momentum and uphold the Agency’s balanced approach in tackling drug abuse and trafficking nationwide.
The NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling drug networks and cutting off the supply of illicit substances across the country.
