By Victor Akaa
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, alias Olowoidiogede or Temo, the notorious head of the Mushin, Lagos drug cartel, after years of evading arrest.
This was announced by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday.
In a major operational breakthrough, the 57-year-old drug baron was caught at his Mushin enclave on Monday, July 22, 2024, following a prolonged surveillance operation.
Temo’s arrest marks a significant milestone in the NDLEA’s efforts to dismantle drug cartels in Lagos and across the country.
Despite previous interceptions of large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira linked to Temo, he had managed to evade capture until now. The agency’s operatives mobilized a reinforcement of about 50 personnel to the area, thwarting Temo’s attempt to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350. His men’s attempts to engage and distract the operatives also failed, leading to their surrender and the recovery of the vehicle.
Recent seizures of Temo’s shipments include:- 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana on January 28, 2024, two truck-loads of the same substance weighing 8,852kg on May 4, 2023, 252kg of Loud seized from his enclave in Mushin on July 26, 2023.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and resilience.
He urged them to intensify their efforts against drug cartels, stating, “We’re just steps away from their doorsteps, and they can only run, they can’t hide forever.”
The arrest of Temo serves as a warning to other drug kingpins that the NDLEA is closing in on them. The agency’s determination and modern tools have proven that no one is above the law, and those involved in the illicit drug trade will eventually face justice.
Source: Culled from SK Usman’s Facebook page
