In a significant clampdown on drug trafficking, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a family-run drug cartel in Lagos State, arresting five suspects and confiscating more than 508 kilograms of skunk.
The principal suspects, Ajah Johnson Uchenna—a Lagos-based businessman—and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, were arrested on Friday, June 13 in the Ojo area. They were found with 277.5kg of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, and subsequently handed over to the NDLEA for investigation.
Cartel Continued Operations While Leaders Were in Custody
Despite their arrest, intelligence reports indicated that the drug network remained operational. On Tuesday, July 1, NDLEA operatives raided the couple’s residence and a nearby storehouse believed to be used for distribution. This second operation yielded an additional 231kg of skunk.
Three more suspects were arrested during the raid: the couple’s daughters, Stella and Ngozi Uchenna, and a family associate, Okoro Elijah. Authorities say the trio had taken over the operation in their parents’ absence.
NDLEA: “A Household Turned Drug Syndicate”
A senior NDLEA official described the bust as one of the most disturbing cases of organised family involvement in drug trafficking.
“This is more than just a crime—it’s a family business,” the official noted. “The structure and coordination of this operation reveal a well-organised network that must be completely dismantled.”
All five suspects are now in NDLEA custody and face multiple charges, including drug trafficking and criminal conspiracy.
NDLEA Vows Relentless Action Against Drug Syndicates
Reaffirming its uncompromising stance, the NDLEA declared that no individual or group, regardless of status or family ties, will be shielded from the law.
“The law applies to everyone,” the agency stated, adding that investigations are ongoing to identify more accomplices and expand the crackdown beyond Lagos.
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