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LAGOS, Nigeria - The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has detained three alleged businessmen for drug trafficking at a well-known hospitality venue, The Hook Hotel, located in the Victoria Island area of Lagos State.
The suspects, identified as Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh, were apprehended during the operation at the five-story hotel after officials discovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 417.3 kilograms with a street value exceeding ₦1 billion.
In addition to the three individuals in custody, the agency has launched a search for two additional suspects, Noble Philip and his associate, Kenneth.
Items believed to be the proceeds from illegal drug activities seized from The Hook Hotel, also referred to as Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge,which is situated at 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street in Victoria Island, Lagos include a Toyota Prado Landcruiser Jeep (Lagos AKD 472 OZ), a Toyota Sienna vehicle (Lagos KJA 79 HJ), a Volkswagen delivery van (Lagos AAA 525 JE), a Kia Ceranto (Lagos BDG 860 GQ), a Grand Caravan Dodge (Lagos APP 847 YF), 74 new television sets, 10 used television sets, 13 refrigerators, among other items.
Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, confirmed the arrests in a statement released to the press on Sunday.
He noted, “An 80-room new hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, which was being used as a front for trafficking illicit substances, has been raided by NDLEA operatives who, after hours of searching the premises, uncovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 417.3 kilograms valued at over ₦1 billion in street price. 'At least three suspects: Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh were detained during the operation at the five-story hotel between the 25th and 26th of April 2025, while two other suspects, Noble Philip and his associate Kenneth, remain at large.”
