At last, NDLEA nabs long-sought Lagos drug cartel leader

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said on Wednesday that its operatives had apprehended Sulaiman Jimoh, believed to be the mastermind behind a powerful drug syndicate in Mushin, Lagos State.

According to the agency, Jimoh, a long-sought suspect, had managed to evade capture until his eventual arrest.

This breakthrough follows the apprehension of another high-profile drug baron, Mr. Joachin Mbonu, who was taken into custody on July 12 at his Imo State mansion after fleeing from South Africa.

Mr. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s spokesperson, revealed in a statement on Wednesday that Jimoh was captured at his hideout following a brief skirmish with his men, who initially tried to prevent his arrest but were ultimately overpowered.

He said: “After many years of wearing the toga of invincibility, the overall head of the Mushin, Lagos drug cartel, 57-year-old Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh (alias Olowoidiogede, popularly known as Temo), has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at his enclave after an initial resistance from him and his horde of hoodlums.”

Babafemi pointed out that the NDLEA had previously confiscated massive quantities of drugs worth billions of naira from Jimoh’s possession.

He further revealed that the agency’s operatives had engaged in intense gun battles with Jimos’s associates on several occasions.

Babafemi said: “In the last two years, the NDLEA had intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira owned by Temo but he has remained largely evasive while a few encounters with him and his armed gangs in his Mushin enclave had resulted in gunfights.

“Jimoh’s shipments have been repeatedly intercepted, including a notable seizure of 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud cannabis on January 28, 2024, and subsequent seizures of 8,852 kilograms on May 4, 2023, and 252 kilograms on July 26, 2023, from various locations in Lagos.

These operations were met with resistance, as Temo’s associates engaged NDLEA operatives in intense gun battles during the last two encounters.”

Babafemi described the circumstances surrounding Jimoh’s arrest, explaining that the NDLEA’s surveillance unit had been monitoring his movements and finally pinpointed his location on Igbarere Street in Mushin on July 22.

The team swiftly deployed a reinforcement of 50 additional operatives to apprehend Jimoh when he attempted to flee.

Babafemi said: “Jimoh, known for his evasive tactics, was finally apprehended on Monday, July 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. on Igbarere Street, Mushin, thanks to the persistence and determination of the NDLEA, aided by modern tools and intelligence.

“As he attempted to flee in a Mercedes Benz SUV, a reinforcement of approximately 50 operatives was swiftly deployed to the area, ensuring his capture and ending his reign of evasion.”

Babafemi stated that Jimoh attempted to mobilize hoodlums to engage and distract the operatives to facilitate his escape, but he was unsuccessful.

He said: “His attempt to escape by mobilizing hoodlums to engage and distract the operatives, however, failed, after which he was overpowered and whisked away from the chaotic scene while his men surrendered to the superior firepower of the anti-narcotic agents, who also succeeded in recovering the Mercedes Benz SUV the suspect was found in.”

According to Babafemi, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, praised the outstanding efforts of the officers and men of the Lagos State Command, Special Monitoring Task Force, and other units involved in the successful arrest of Jimoh.

He said: “In his reaction to the arrest of Jimoh, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA commended the officers and men of the Lagos State Command, Special Monitoring Task Force, and other formations tasked with the assignment of getting Jimoh arrested for their resilience, vigilance, and professionalism.

He urged them to intensify the heat on all drug cartels, wherever they are located.