Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have taken into custody a suspected drug baron, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, popularly known as “Chisco Bee,” during a targeted operation in the Isolo area of Lagos State.
Ibemesi, 42, who identifies as the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig Ltd, was picked up in the early hours of Saturday, November 15, at his Daisy Garden Hotel situated at 66–68 Agbeke Street, Ago Palace Way. His arrest followed weeks of discreet intelligence collection and close monitoring of his alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, noting that operatives recovered 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of Loud, a potent variant of cannabis, weighing 1,762.8 kilograms.
At the time of his arrest, officers also seized cash in foreign currencies, including $11,600, 2,000 British Pounds, 2,200 Euros, and 50 Canadian dollars.
In a separate operation, the NDLEA disrupted a large-scale attempt by suspected traffickers to load and distribute a huge quantity of processed skunk—11,135 kilograms—intended for circulation across the country.
The syndicate, reportedly operating around Orita-Apeje and Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State, was intercepted on Tuesday, November 11, after an NDLEA strike team uncovered their activities within the forest corridor.
During the raid, operatives impounded two trucks designated for transporting the illegal consignments: a Volvo truck with number WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck bearing registration AWK 713 YZ.
According to the agency, seven suspects were apprehended in connection with the seized drugs. Those arrested include Lucky Abiodun, Julius Amos, Victor Ngbikili, Sunday Oduegwu, Ibrahim Akanni, Eze Godstime, and Fred Ifeanyichukwu.
The NDLEA stated that investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon the completion of interrogations.
See the full statement by NDLEA below:
Wanted drug baron arrested as NDLEA recovers large drug shipment, forex in Lagos hideout
. Seizes over 14,440kg skunk in Osun forest, Lagos, Edo, Kwara, Taraba, Nasarawa raids
A wanted drug baron who operates under the cover of a businessman and hotelier, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, alias Chisco Bee, has been arrested by operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after weeks of intelligence and surveillance on his criminal activities.
The 42-year-old Ibemesi who is the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig Ltd was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel, 66-68 Agbeke street, Ago palace way, Isolo Lagos in the early hours of Saturday 15th November 2025 after which he was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi street off Ago place way, Isolo where 42 jumbo bags and four cartoons of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 1,762.8 kilograms were recovered. Also seized from him at the point of his arrest include: $11,600 US dollars; 2,000 British Pounds; 2,200 Euros and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash.
Attempt by a drug syndicate operating at Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve, Ife South LGA, Osun state to load and distribute across the country large quantities of processed skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 11,135 kilograms were thwarted on Tuesday 11th November by NDLEA operatives after days of surveillance in the forest. Two trucks being used to transport the illicit consignments: a Volvo truck marked WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck with registration number AWK 713 YZ were seized and seven suspects arrested. Those in custody in connection with the seizure are: Lucky Abiodun; Julius Amos; Victor Ngbikili; Sunday Oduegwu; Ibrahim Akanni; Eze Godstime; and Fred Ifeanyichukwu.
A total of 1,902.1 kilograms of skunk were recovered in parts of Edo state. While 184.1kg was recovered along a bush path at Oza/Igbanke road, Igbanke, in Orhionmwon LGA on Thursday 13th November, 672kg was evacuated from Utese forest, Ovia North East LGA on Friday 14th Nov, with 494kg recovered from a Mercedes Benz car marked DE311BEN along
Benin-Akure road where a suspect Felix Edah, 45, was arrested same day, just as Lucky Abagha, 51, was nabbed in another Mercedes Benz car marked JJJ 56 JW conveying 552kg.
While four suspects: Micheal Okoh; Offor Agada; Raphael Nkemjika and Nwabueze Franklin
were arrested with 68kg skunk and 3.150kg methamphetamine along Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun state, Danjuma Tukura, 50, was nabbed with 172kg skunk at Sunkani area of Ardo Kola LGA, Taraba state on Friday 14th November and Wisdom Titus, 24, with 84kg of same substance at Takum area of the state.
In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Friday 14th November recovered 396,000 capsules of tramadol from a suspect Ahmed Isyaku Nda, 50, at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport Yola, while 785kg of skunk was evacuated from the warehouse of a drug dealer currently at large at Asob Maraba Karu, Nasarawa state.
Two suspects: Jamiu Kunle Kardoso and Oriyomi Waliu were on Friday 14th November arrested with 130 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 65.150kg in Surulere area of Lagos, just as Taofeek Moraina was nabbed same day with 282 blocks of Ghana Loud with a gross weight of 141kg at Otto, Oyingbo area of Lagos.
In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives on Thursday 13th November intercepted a truck marked T- 0262KT along Ilorin – Jebba expressway conveying 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565kg and 155 cartons of rubber solutions. The truck driver Umar Yakubu was taken into custody. In another operation, a commercial bus with registration number KJA- 657CY was intercepted at Eiyenkonrin, Ilorin on Wednesday 12th November with 20 blocks of skunk concealed in a 50-litre jerry can recovered and the driver Ibrahim Bello arrested.
In like manner, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Birnin Ruwa Gusau, Zamfara; Holy Ghost Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; Government Science Technical School, Ringim, Jigawa; City Girls Secondary School, Enugu; Randle Junior Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos; and Anglican Girls Grammar School, Obalende, Ijebu Ode, Ogun state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of the SOU, Osun, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Kwara Commands for the arrests, and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Sunday 16th November 2025
What You Should Know
These coordinated NDLEA operations reflect Nigeria’s intensified crackdown on sprawling drug networks operating in both urban centers and remote forest reserves.
The arrest of “Chisco Bee” and the seizure of more than 12,000 kilograms of cannabis-based substances reveal the scale of trafficking activities and the agency’s renewed resolve to intercept illicit shipments, weaken distribution channels, and seize the financial proceeds keeping these criminal structures alive.
