A restaurant owner from Lekki has been arrested following a joint operation between Nigerian authorities and U.S. law enforcement agencies. The arrest is part of a larger investigation into an international drug trafficking network that spans both the United States and Nigeria.
The individual, whose name has not yet been disclosed, is accused of playing a key role in a transnational operation involving the production and distribution of illicit drugs, including cocaine and methamphetamine. According to Nigerian authorities, the operation has been under investigation for several months, culminating in the recent arrest at the restaurant located in Lekki, a well-known commercial and residential district in Lagos.
U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), collaborated with Nigerian officials to dismantle the network, which is believed to have smuggled large quantities of narcotics from South America to Nigeria, then further into North America and Europe. Investigators suggest the suspect’s restaurant may have been used as a front for the illegal activities, potentially involved in money laundering and trafficking.
"The arrest of this individual is a significant step forward in our efforts to combat the global drug trade," said a spokesperson for the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). "Through continued collaboration with international partners, we aim to disrupt and dismantle these harmful networks that exploit both local and global communities."
Authorities have confirmed that the operation is ongoing, with more arrests expected as investigators trace the illicit financial transactions and drug routes tied to the network. Additionally, Nigerian law enforcement is expected to work closely with the U.S. authorities in the coming weeks to further dismantle the organization.