In a landmark operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, also known as Temo, the notorious head of the Mushin, Lagos drug cartel. This arrest comes after years of evading capture. Temo, 57, was detained by NDLEA operatives at his stronghold, following initial resistance from him and his armed associates.
Over the past two years, the NDLEA had intercepted significant consignments of illicit drugs linked to Temo, valued at billions of naira. Despite several encounters and intense gunfights with his gang, Temo remained elusive. Among the recent seizures were:
– 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis sativa, intercepted in two trucks and a J5 bus in Ojuelegba, Lagos, on January 28, 2024.
– Two truckloads of the same substance, weighing 8,852 kg, seized at Eleko beach, Lekki, Lagos, on May 4, 2023.
– 252 kg of Loud confiscated from his Mushin enclave on July 26, 2023.
The relentless efforts of the NDLEA, supported by modern tools and intelligence, culminated in Temo’s arrest at 10 am on July 22, 2024. Surveillance teams tracked him to Igbarere Street, Mushin, where a reinforcement of 50 operatives was mobilized. Temo attempted to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350 but was overpowered after his hoodlums’ diversion failed. The operatives successfully recovered the vehicle and detained Temo.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the officers and men of the Lagos State Command, Special Monitoring Task Force, and other formations involved in Temo’s capture for their resilience, vigilance, and professionalism. He urged continued efforts against drug cartels, stating, “This arrest sends a clear message to others in the illicit drug trade that they can only run, but they cannot hide forever.”
Marwa emphasized the significance of the operation’s success without casualties, reinforcing the NDLEA’s commitment to eradicating drug cartels in Nigeria.