The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, also known as Temo, a notorious drug kingpin and the head of the Mushin, Lagos drug cartel.
The 57-year-old, who had long evaded capture, was apprehended at his hideout despite initial resistance from his armed followers.
The arrest was announced in a statement by NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Wednesday.
According to the statement, Temo had managed to avoid capture for years, despite being linked to several large drug consignments worth billions of naira.
Babafemi noted that encounters with the suspect’s gang often resulted in gunfights, making his capture particularly challenging.
“In the last two years, the NDLEA had intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira owned by Temo but he has remained largely evasive while a few encounters with him and his armed gangs in his Mushin enclave had resulted in gunfight,” the statement read.
Some of Temo’s recent drug shipments intercepted by the NDLEA include 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana.
These were seized in two trucks and a J5 bus at Ojuelegba, Lagos, in January 2024.
Additionally, two truckloads of the same substance weighing 8,852kg were intercepted at Eleko beach, Lekki, in May 2023, and 252kg of Loud was seized from his Mushin enclave on July 26, 2023.
During these operations, Temo’s men often engaged NDLEA operatives in violent confrontations.
Despite his notoriety and constant movement to evade arrest, Temo was finally captured on Monday, July 22, 2024, at Igbarere Street, Mushin.
The statement added that the NDLEA’s surveillance teams had been tracking Temo, and a reinforcement of about 50 operatives was mobilised to the area when he attempted to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350.
His effort to mobilise hoodlums to distract the operatives failed, and he was eventually overpowered and arrested.
Reacting to the arrest, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers for their resilience, vigilance, and professionalism.
Marwa emphasised the agency’s commitment to eradicating drug cartels and warned other criminals in the drug trade to desist or face similar consequences.
“I’m particularly delighted because the arrest was eventually effected in his enclave without any casualty despite the attack on our men.
“This is therefore a clear message to others still involved in this criminal trade of illicit drugs that if they don’t opt out now, we’ll get them because we’re just steps away from their doorsteps and more importantly, they can only run, they can’t hide forever,” Marwa stated.