Daud Olatunji
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 28-year-old American professional basketball player, Greene Da’monte Khiree, after recovering 33.95 kilogrammes of a potent strain of cannabis, popularly known as Loud, from two bags allegedly abandoned by the suspect at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The arrest was part of a series of intelligence-led operations by the anti-narcotics agency across several states, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs, the arrest of suspected traffickers and the discovery of an illegal firearms fabrication factory in Kaduna State.
The NDLEA said the American national was arrested on Wednesday, November 11, shortly after arriving in Lagos aboard an Emirates Airline flight from Thailand through Dubai.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect had been placed under discreet surveillance following intelligence reports about his activities.
Babafemi said operatives observed the American abandoning his two checked-in bags before attempting to leave the airport with only his carry-on luggage.
He was subsequently apprehended at the airport car park.
A search of the abandoned bags, which reportedly bore his name tags, led to the discovery of 32 parcels of Loud, with 16 parcels recovered from each bag.
The seized substance weighed a total of 33.95 kilogrammes, while a tracking device was also recovered from the luggage.
The suspect, said to be a native of Savannah, Georgia, United States, reportedly told investigators that he had been living in Thailand since October 2025, where he played professional basketball.
He allegedly claimed that his visit to Nigeria was for a holiday and to establish networks that could advance his basketball career.
However, the agency said a forensic examination of his mobile phone uncovered information suggesting that he had prior knowledge of and involvement in the drug trafficking operation.
In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a 33-year-old man, Taiwo Adebayo Aderoju, at Ebute Metta on Tuesday, November 10, recovering 119.71 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa from him.
Similarly, a joint operation in the Ajah area of the state on Saturday, November 14, led to the recovery of various illicit substances from a silver Toyota Sienna allegedly abandoned by a fleeing suspect.
The recovered drugs included 78.8 kilogrammes of cannabis, 2.5 litres of skuchies, 6.8 litres of codeine syrup, 23 grammes of Rohypnol, 478 grammes of tramadol, 10.6 kilogrammes of nitrous oxide and 714 grammes of pregabalin.
Gun Factory Uncovered In Kaduna
In Kaduna State, the agency said its operatives uncovered a suspected illegal firearms fabrication factory at Sabon Garin Kangin during a raid on Monday, November 9.
A 45-year-old suspect, identified as Sagiru Musa, was arrested in connection with the discovery.
Items recovered from the facility included 17 locally fabricated Dane guns, two pistols, 25 Dane gun pipes and other materials allegedly used in the production of firearms.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives patrolling the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway intercepted a 31-year-old woman, Tabara Dauda, at Jere on Friday, November 13.
She was allegedly found conveying 196 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition alongside N675,000 in cash.
Also in Kaduna, a 30-year-old man, Samson Chibuike Andebe, was arrested at Grace Land in Sabon Gari Local Government Area on Wednesday, November 11, with 3,840 tablets of tramadol weighing 2.5 kilogrammes.
Two other suspects, Celestine Chime, 34, and Chibueze Christ, 36, were arrested during a raid on a suspected drug hideout in Gonin-Gora on Saturday, November 14.
The operation reportedly led to the recovery of 499.3 kilogrammes of skunk.
560kg Cannabis Seized In Ondo
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspected cannabis dealers, Victor William, 42, and Akeem Azeez, 27, at Olabi village bush on Tuesday, November 10.
The agency said the suspects were apprehended while allegedly bringing out bags of cannabis for sale.
They reportedly led the operatives to a storage facility, where 50 bags of cannabis weighing 560 kilogrammes were recovered.
Another operation at Ipele Forest on Friday, November 13, resulted in the arrest of three suspects identified as Godwin Benson, 30; Muhammed Awwal, 34; and James Timothy, 18.
A total of 122 kilogrammes of cannabis was recovered during the raid on the suspected cannabis farm.
Woman Arrested With 255kg Cannabis In Delta
In Delta State, operatives arrested a 43-year-old woman, Esther Igba, at Alihame, Agbor, in Ika South Local Government Area on Thursday, November 12.
She was reportedly found with 255.670 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa and 1.5 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.
The agency also disclosed that a 25-year-old suspected drug distributor, Aaron Thomas, popularly known as Ibori, was arrested at Oguato, Ughelli South Local Government Area, on Tuesday, November 10.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect had been under surveillance for more than six months and was allegedly a major distributor of illicit substances who operated a notorious bush bar.
Items recovered from him included 360 grammes of cannabis, 12.7 litres of codeine syrup, 500 grammes of tramadol 100mg, 90 grammes of tramadol 200mg, 215 grammes of Swinol and 135 grammes of Molly, also known as MDMA.
NDLEA Destroys Cannabis Farms In Osun
In Osun State, two men, Eze Chidiebere, 23, and Nwaoge Ugochukwu, 24, were arrested during an operation at Owena Forest Reserve.
The suspects were reportedly found with 86 kilogrammes of cannabis.
In a related operation within the same forest reserve, operatives arrested a 40-year-old man, Ugwu Chukwuemeka, with 28 kilogrammes of dried cannabis and 21 kilogrammes of fresh cannabis leaves.
The agency said the suspect’s cannabis farm, covering 0.855 hectares, was also destroyed.
The farm reportedly contained an estimated 2,137.5 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 39-year-old woman, Blessing Chukwudi, during a raid on Jamila Street, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, on Tuesday, November 10.
The operation followed weeks of surveillance of suspected drug activities in the area.
Items recovered from the suspect included 22 compressed parcels of Loud weighing 14 kilogrammes, 65 grammes of Colorado and 73 grammes of methamphetamine.
Reacting to the operations, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the agency’s commands in Lagos, Kaduna, Ondo, Delta, Osun and Edo states for their vigilance and professionalism.
Marwa particularly praised the interception of methamphetamine allegedly concealed in breakfast cereals, describing the operation as evidence that sophisticated concealment methods could not defeat the determination of the agency’s operatives.
He also said the discovery of the suspected firearms fabrication factory in Kaduna underscored the connection between illicit drug activities and violent criminality.
The NDLEA chairman urged officers across the country to sustain the ongoing operations and intensify efforts to tackle both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem.
Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
