The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, popularly known as Temo, a notorious Lagos drug baron who had evaded capture for many years. Temo, 57, alleged leader of the Mushin, Lagos drug cartel, was apprehended after resisting arrest alongside his gang.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stated on Wednesday that Temo had long avoided capture despite numerous encounters with his armed gang, which often resulted in gunfights.
Over the last two years, NDLEA intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira linked to Temo. These included: 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud cannabis intercepted in Lagos on January 28, 2024; 8,852 kilograms of the same substance seized at Eleko beach, Lekki Lagos on May 4, 2023, and 252 kilograms of Loud confiscated from his Mushin enclave on July 26, 2023.
Despite previous attempts, NDLEA’s persistence paid off on July 22, 2024, when surveillance teams tracked Temo to Igbarere Street, Mushin. Reinforcements were called, and Temo was captured while attempting to flee in a Mercedes Benz SUV. His gang’s attempt to resist failed against the superior firepower of the anti-narcotic agents.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers involved for their resilience and professionalism. He highlighted that the arrest was made without any casualties despite the gang’s attack.
Marwa reiterated the agency’s commitment to intensifying efforts against all drug cartels and issued a warning to those involved in the illicit drug trade that their days of evasion are numbered.
