The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully captured one of Lagos’ most elusive drug kingpins, Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, widely known as “Temo.” The 57-year-old baron, who had evaded authorities for years, was arrested on Monday, July 22, 2024, in a dramatic operation in the Mushin area of Lagos, according to a statement by the agency.
Temo, the reputed head of the Mushin drug cartel, had long been a thorn in the side of the NDLEA. Over the past two years, the agency had intercepted numerous shipments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira linked to Temo’s operations. These included a massive seizure of 14,524.8 kilograms of “Ghana Loud” cannabis in January 2024 and two truck-loads of the same substance weighing 8,852kg in May 2023.
The arrest came after an intense surveillance operation that culminated in a tense standoff. NDLEA operatives tracked Temo to Igbarere Street in Mushin, where he attempted to flee in a Mercedes Benz SUV. Despite mobilizing local hoodlums to distract the authorities, Temo was ultimately overpowered and apprehended.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the professionalism and determination of the officers involved in the operation. “This arrest sends a clear message to others involved in the illicit drug trade,” Marwa stated. “They can run, but they can’t hide forever.”
The capture of Temo marks a significant victory in the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to dismantle drug cartels operating in Nigeria. As the agency intensifies its crackdown on narcotics trafficking, this high-profile arrest is likely to have far-reaching implications for the illegal drug trade in Lagos and beyond.