RismadarVoice Reporters
February 22, 2026
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Lagos-based real estate developer and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Trans Fortress Global Resources, Kolapo Raji, over alleged drug trafficking.
Raji, 57, was arrested at his Safe Court Apartment residence in Ikate, Lekki, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, following what the agency described as sustained surveillance after his return from the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA said the suspect had been on its watchlist since 2025.
A search of his residence reportedly led to the recovery of four large bags containing parcels of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 89.20 kilograms. A 2024 model Toyota Hilux vehicle was also recovered at the point of arrest.
According to the statement, the suspect allegedly admitted involvement in the illicit drug trade after financing consignments for an overseas associate. He was quoted as saying that substantial profits from the venture encouraged him to establish an independent distribution network.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport arrested a 41-year-old Ivorian national, Michael Gohouri, also known as Anunwa Michael, during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa.
Babafemi said a body scan confirmed ingestion of illicit drugs, after which the suspect excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms.
The agency disclosed that Gohouri had arrived in Lagos from Milan on January 17, 2026, and had travelled between Lagos, Enugu and Kano before attempting to smuggle the drugs. He was reportedly to be paid €5,000 upon delivery in Milan.
Further operations across the country led to multiple arrests and seizures.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Ugwuja Kingsley with 56 kilograms of skunk at Agbara on February 19, and Ekwe Arinze with 76 kilograms of the same substance at a motor park in Oshodi on February 17.
At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, officers in a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies discovered 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in a container.
Along the Okene–Lokoja highway in Kogi State, operatives recovered 7,300 pills of tramadol (225mg) hidden in two sound systems during a search of a commuter bus. A follow-up operation in Zuba, Abuja, led to the arrest of two suspects, Ezenma Kingsley, 26, and Ezeja Anthony, 29.
In Ondo State, 195 kilograms of skunk were recovered from Bright Timothy, 28, at Iju forest, while Godwin Bernard was arrested with 198 kilograms of the same substance during raids on forest enclaves.
In Bauchi State, the agency seized 936 kilograms of skunk from Yahaya Adamu Gimba, 48, in Azare town, Katagum Local Government Area, with an additional 85.8 kilograms recovered from him and three other suspects.
In Delta State, 37 kilograms of skunk were seized from Mgbeme Ejeoma, 34, in Ughelli, while in Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 1,266.8475 kilograms of skunk on three farms in Owan West Local Government Area. Two suspects, including a 68-year-old woman, Evelyn Ogenewu, and Friday Iruoje, 43, were arrested, with 23 kilograms of processed cannabis recovered.
The NDLEA said it has intensified nationwide operations against drug trafficking syndicates, including efforts to dismantle networks allegedly using legitimate businesses as fronts for storage and distribution across airports, highways, land borders and seaports.
