The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has uncovered a suspected drug warehouse in the Mende area of Maryland, Lagos, recovering 425 bags of Canadian Loud and other items linked to an alleged drug distribution syndicate.
The operation was carried out at No. 10 Olori Adekemi Ajibola Street, Arowojobe Estate, Mende, over the weekend.
Police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Eke Henry Ifeanyi, who allegedly used a three-bedroom apartment within the compound to store and distribute the banned substance within and outside Nigeria.
Items recovered from the apartment included two electric vehicles bearing forged presidency number plates marked NYCN 10 SE, one Leopard hybrid vehicle with the same forged plate number, three Android phones, one Republic of Liberia residence permit card, two ATM cards, and an Emporio Armani wristwatch.
When The Guardian visited the compound, it was observed that the suspect did not reside in any of the buildings but allegedly used the premises solely for business operations. Investigators said he concealed the illicit activity by storing thermal paper rolls commonly used by Point of Sale (POS) operators in hundreds of cartons within the apartment.
Police said the suspect initially escaped during an earlier operation, but his luck ran out on May 19, 2026, when detectives trailed and arrested him.
Following his arrest, he reportedly led investigators to the apartment used as the warehouse.
It was further discovered that the parlour of the apartment was packed with cartons of thermal paper, while bags containing the suspected Canadian Loud were stored in one of the rooms.
An immediate neighbour expressed shock over the activities, stating that residents had no suspicion of what was happening within the compound.
Speaking on the operation, the AIG in charge of Zone 2, AIG Adegoke Jimoh, said intelligence provided by a concerned resident led to the successful bust of the syndicate.
He commended residents of Lagos and Ogun states for providing useful information that had aided police operations against the circulation of banned substances.
Jimoh said: “Following actionable intelligence received from a concerned and patriotic citizen about suspected drug trafficking operations being perpetrated by Eke Henry Ifeanyi, detectives attached to the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID), Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, started trailing and monitoring the activities of the suspect, an operation which lasted for some months.
“During the painstaking and thorough search operation, detectives uncovered bags containing substances suspected to be Canadian Loud stocked in one of the rooms. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect hid under the guise of selling thermal paper rolls used by POS machines to print receipts.”
According to the police, the suspect allegedly used online platforms to trade and distribute the prohibited substances within and outside Lagos State.
Jimoh added that the vehicles with forged special number plates were allegedly used by the suspect to evade detection while transporting the illicit drugs.
He said investigations were ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate and prosecute all persons connected to the operation.
“On my assumption of duty in March 2026, I promised to ensure a reduction in crimes and criminality in the zone by working with the good people of the two states to encourage timely information sharing with the police,” he said.
He assured the public that updates on the investigation would be provided, adding that the suspect would be arraigned upon conclusion of investigations.
Speaking with The Guardian, the suspect claimed that one of his business partners, identified simply as Ejike and said to be based outside Nigeria, usually sent people to collect the products from him.
He also alleged that another associate, Chijioke Idoko, who resides in another African country, sent workers to receive and transport the substances.
“They send people down, get the product and send me my money after confirming delivery,” he said.
Asked about the cost of the product, the suspect claimed that each bag was sold for N500,000.
