After many weeks of launching manhunt, the operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended Levi Chidiebele Ubodoeze, a sought-after automobile spare parts dealer.
Ubodoeze was declared wanted for a failed attempt to smuggle two kilograms of cocaine hidden inside vehicle propellers to Angola.
The agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, stated that the arrest was made possible through collaborative intelligence sharing between the NDLEA and Angolan authorities.
Babafemi explained, “After the cocaine shipment was seized at a logistics company in the Aspanda area of the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, on February 21, 2025, we swiftly contacted the Angolan authorities. They subsequently arrested the intended recipient of the drugs in Angola, which led us to uncover Ubodoeze’s identity as the sender.”
On Thursday, March 6th, NDLEA operatives tracked Ubodoeze to his residence in the Ago Palace Way area of Isolo, Lagos. He was found trying to escape in a KIA SUV. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 75.5 kilograms of phenacetin, hidden in semolina packaging, as well as a digital scale used for weighing illicit drugs, which was found at his house.
Ubodoeze admitted to being involved in the cocaine trade while operating as a spare parts dealer in the Ladipo Market, Mushin. He revealed that the recipient in Angola had alerted him of their arrest, prompting him to attempt fleeing his home just before NDLEA officers arrived.
Meanwhile, NDLEA agents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) intercepted a shipment of cannabis-infused candies from the UK, intended for sale at a children’s store in Lagos. The consignment, which arrived on Allied Airways on February 27, was examined, and forensic tests confirmed it contained a potent form of cannabis. The recipient, Adedamola Taylor, was arrested on March 4th, following the initial detention of a freight agent.
Taylor claimed the shipment was sent by his UK-based brother, Babatunde Alabi, and was meant to be delivered to Musurat Lawal, who operates the children’s shop owned by Alabi in Surulere, Lagos. Further investigation led to the arrest of Musurat Lawal.
On March 7th, two suspects, China Michael and Igbo Ekene, were detained when NDLEA agents intercepted their truck in the Shibiri area of Ojo, Lagos. A search revealed 248 compressed blocks of Ghanaian Loud cannabis, weighing a total of 128 kilograms, hidden in the truck’s underbelly.
In another operation in Lagos on the same day, three individuals—Osinachi Nwachukwu, Tochukwu Okafor Christian, and John Ugochukwu Mbakwe—were arrested with 301,600 tramadol pills and other opioids.
In Kano, 65-year-old Yahaya Haruna was apprehended on March 6th with 19.2 kilograms of skunk, while 60-year-old Musa Bello (also known as Jajere) was detained with 212 bottles of codeine syrup in Kumbotso Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, in Abia State, NDLEA operatives seized 442,594 pills of tramadol and other opioids, as well as 1,274 bottles of codeine syrup, from the residence and warehouse of 37-year-old Blessing Okoronkwo in Aba on March 4th.
In Benue State, NDLEA agents recovered 50,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 from two suspects—47-year-old Nwaeze Onyeabor and 23-year-old Tombo Thomas—on March 5th. The drugs were found after their vehicle was intercepted at Ugbema junction in the Katsina Ala area.
In Osun State, a 50-year-old suspect, Asimiyu Muibi, was arrested on March 4th with 162 kilograms of skunk in Modakeke, Ife East. On the same day, 95 kilograms of the same substance was found in a Toyota Camry car marked KSF 72 GW during a raid in Ede.
On March 5th, a 55-year-old suspect, Etim Esien Stephen, was apprehended when NDLEA officers raided a cannabis farm in Amahor Community Forest, Igueben, Edo State. A total of 9,514.625 kilograms of skunk was destroyed on 3.805 hectares of land.
Across the country, NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative continued its sensitization activities, reaching schools, religious centers, workplaces, and communities. Recent events included lectures at Model High School in Amaechi, Enugu, Bengy Secondary School in Lagos, Sunshine Secondary School in Akwa Ibom, and Government Day Secondary School in Dong, Adamawa State.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of the agency’s personnel across the country. He commended their successful operations and their balanced approach to tackling both drug supply and demand reduction.
Let me know if you’d like further revisions or additions! (NDLEA) have apprehended Levi Chidiebele Ubodoeze, a sought-after automobile spare parts dealer, three weeks after they launched a manhunt for him. He was wanted for a failed attempt to smuggle two kilograms of cocaine hidden inside vehicle propellers to Angola.
In a series of operations across the country, the agency also confiscated phenacetin—a substance commonly used to cut cocaine—concealed in packs of semolina. Additionally, a shipment of cannabis-infused candies from the UK, intended for a children’s shop in Lagos, was intercepted. Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesman, stated that the arrest was made possible through collaborative intelligence sharing between the NDLEA and Angolan authorities.
Babafemi explained, “After the cocaine shipment was seized at a logistics company in the Aspanda area of the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, on February 21, 2025, we swiftly contacted the Angolan authorities. They subsequently arrested the intended recipient of the drugs in Angola, which led us to uncover Ubodoeze’s identity as the sender.”
On Thursday, March 6th, NDLEA operatives tracked Ubodoeze to his residence in the Ago Palace Way area of Isolo, Lagos. He was found trying to escape in a KIA SUV. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 75.5 kilograms of phenacetin, hidden in semolina packaging, as well as a digital scale used for weighing illicit drugs, which was found at his house.
Ubodoeze admitted to being involved in the cocaine trade while operating as a spare parts dealer in the Ladipo Market, Mushin. He revealed that the recipient in Angola had alerted him of their arrest, prompting him to attempt fleeing his home just before NDLEA officers arrived.
Meanwhile, NDLEA agents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) intercepted a shipment of cannabis-infused candies from the UK, intended for sale at a children’s store in Lagos. The consignment, which arrived on Allied Airways on February 27, was examined, and forensic tests confirmed it contained a potent form of cannabis. The recipient, Adedamola Taylor, was arrested on March 4th, following the initial detention of a freight agent.
Taylor claimed the shipment was sent by his UK-based brother, Babatunde Alabi, and was meant to be delivered to Musurat Lawal, who operates the children’s shop owned by Alabi in Surulere, Lagos. Further investigation led to the arrest of Musurat Lawal.
On March 7th, two suspects, China Michael and Igbo Ekene, were detained when NDLEA agents intercepted their truck in the Shibiri area of Ojo, Lagos. A search revealed 248 compressed blocks of Ghanaian Loud cannabis, weighing a total of 128 kilograms, hidden in the truck’s underbelly.
In another operation in Lagos on the same day, three individuals—Osinachi Nwachukwu, Tochukwu Okafor Christian, and John Ugochukwu Mbakwe—were arrested with 301,600 tramadol pills and other opioids.
In Kano, 65-year-old Yahaya Haruna was apprehended on March 6th with 19.2 kilograms of skunk, while 60-year-old Musa Bello (also known as Jajere) was detained with 212 bottles of codeine syrup in Kumbotso Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, in Abia State, NDLEA operatives seized 442,594 pills of tramadol and other opioids, as well as 1,274 bottles of codeine syrup, from the residence and warehouse of 37-year-old Blessing Okoronkwo in Aba on March 4th.
In Benue State, NDLEA agents recovered 50,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 from two suspects—47-year-old Nwaeze Onyeabor and 23-year-old Tombo Thomas—on March 5th. The drugs were found after their vehicle was intercepted at Ugbema junction in the Katsina Ala area.
In Osun State, a 50-year-old suspect, Asimiyu Muibi, was arrested on March 4th with 162 kilograms of skunk in Modakeke, Ife East. On the same day, 95 kilograms of the same substance was found in a Toyota Camry car marked KSF 72 GW during a raid in Ede.
On March 5th, a 55-year-old suspect, Etim Esien Stephen, was apprehended when NDLEA officers raided a cannabis farm in Amahor Community Forest, Igueben, Edo State. A total of 9,514.625 kilograms of skunk was destroyed on 3.805 hectares of land.
Across the country, NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative continued its sensitization activities, reaching schools, religious centers, workplaces, and communities. Recent events included lectures at Model High School in Amaechi, Enugu, Bengy Secondary School in Lagos, Sunshine Secondary School in Akwa Ibom, and Government Day Secondary School in Dong, Adamawa State.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of the agency’s personnel across the country. He commended their successful operations and their balanced approach to tackling both drug supply and demand reduction.
