Lekki Restaurant Owner Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking in Nigeria

Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, a restaurant owner in Lekki, was arrested on March 24, 2025, for allegedly importing cannabis from the U.S. His arrest followed the seizure of a shipment containing 60 parcels of Loud. NDLEA also apprehended other suspects involved in drug trafficking across multiple states, demonstrating robust efforts against narcotics in Nigeria.

On March 24, 2025, Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, a 43-year-old owner of Damillionz Takeout in Lekki, Nigeria, was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly importing 60 parcels of Loud, a potent cannabis strain, from the United States. The arrest occurred at Bay Lounge in Lekki, where he was reportedly awaiting the delivery of the narcotics shipment.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, indicated that Ebenezer’s apprehension was facilitated by the interception of a cargo containing seven large cartons that had arrived in Lagos on March 12. NDLEA operatives seized the shipment at a logistics company, leading to the investigation that ultimately resulted in his arrest.

Subsequent to his arrest, the NDLEA conducted a search of Ebenezer’s residence in Lekki, uncovering an additional 94 grams of cannabis, along with drug paraphernalia. This brought the total weight of the drugs seized during the operation to 32.24 kilograms, and Ebenezer stated that he began trafficking drugs in 2017.

In addition, the agency reported the arrest of another suspect, Omoruyi Terry, who attempted to export 1,400 pills of tramadol to Italy. Terry’s interception occurred at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, where he was en route to Italy on a Qatar Airways flight. Investigative efforts revealed his frequent travel and logistics connections in Italy.

Furthermore, in Katsina, four individuals were arrested during an operation that uncovered 684 blocks of compressed skunk and 86,000 pills of diazepam. The suspects were found repackaging drugs, and one female suspect was detained following the discovery of substantial cannabis at her residence.

The NDLEA documented significant drug elimination operations, including the destruction of over 13,198 kilograms of cannabis sativa in various Edo State forests within a week. Various cannabis plantations across identified areas were eradicated in this process.

Additional drug seizures included the interception of a vehicle containing 179 blocks of compressed skunk in Niger State. Other operations led to the recovery of skunk in various quantities across states, including 50kg at the residence of an absent suspect in Borgu council area, and multiple recoveries in Enugu and Kwara states.

The recent operations by the NDLEA have yielded significant results in combating drug trafficking in Nigeria. The arrests of Arokodare Damil Ebenezer and other suspects demonstrate the agency’s ongoing efforts to disrupt narcotics distribution networks. The large quantities of cannabis and other drugs seized underscore the persistent challenge of drug trafficking, which the NDLEA continues to address through rigorous enforcement and intelligence-led operations.

Original Source: saharareporters.com