NDLEA Raids Lagos Hotel, Recovers N1.042bn Illicit Drug Consignments

An 80-room new hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos used as cover for distributing illicit substances has been raided by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

A statement by Mr. Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, stated that after hours of combing the hotel rooms, NDLEA operatives recovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis with a total weight of 417.3 kilograms worth One Billion Forty-Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1,042,500,000) only in street value.

At least, three suspects: Eze Ayitu; Ofuokwu Samuel; and Emmanuel Ameh were arrested in the course of the operation at the five-storey hotel building between Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April while two other suspects: Noble Philip and his partner Kenneth are currently at large.

Items suspected to be proceeds of illicit drug trade recovered from the premises housing ‘The Hook Hotel’ also known as Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge located at 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, include: Toyota Prado Landcruiser SUV (Lagos AKD 472 OZ); Toyota Sienna Vehicle (Lagos KJA 79 HJ); Volkswagen Delivery Van (Lagos AAA 525 JE); Kia Ceranto Car (Lagos BDG 860 GQ); Grand Caravan Dodge (Lagos APP 847 YF); 74 new TV sets; 10 used TV sets; and 13 refrigerators, among others.