A dramatic police operation in Lagos has led to the arrest of a Nigerian pastor accused of masterminding a multi-million-naira cross-border drg trfficking network. The suspect, identified as the General Overseer of a popular Pentecostal church in Lagos, was reportedly apprehended after evading law enforcement for over three years.
Authorities say the cleric, whose name is being withheld pending further investigations, was arrested on Friday, August 9, 2025, at a private residence in Lekki following a tip-off from international anti-narcotics partners. The operation was a joint effort between the Lagos State Police Command and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with intelligence supplied by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
Investigators revealed that the pastor has been on the wanted list since 2022 for allegedly coordinating the movement of illicit substances from West Africa to Europe and Asia. Evidence gathered by NDLEA operatives indicates that the syndicate concealed shipments in church humanitarian aid containers, with consignments intercepted in Spain, Brazil, and the Philippines.
Sources within the police disclosed that the fugitive had been operating under multiple aliases while running his church as a cover. During the raid, officers reportedly recovered foreign currencies worth over $150,000, two diplomatic passports, and documents linking him to offshore bank accounts in Dubai and Singapore. Several church members are now under interrogation to determine their involvement in the operation.
Lagos State Police Commissioner, Adegoke Fatai, told journalists that the arrest marks “a significant breakthrough in dismantling one of the most deceptive and dangerous trafficking rings operating out of Nigeria.” He confirmed that the suspect will be charged under both Nigerian law and applicable international treaties for drug smuggling, money laundering, and identity fraud.
The NDLEA, led by Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), has intensified its crackdown on high-profile traffickers in recent months. Official records show that over 1,200 suspects have been arrested and more than 2,000 tonnes of narcotics seized across Nigeria between January and July 2025 alone. Analysts believe the arrest of a prominent clergyman will send a strong warning that religious status offers no shield against prosecution.
Community leaders and civil society groups have reacted with shock, calling for a thorough and transparent investigation. The case has sparked heated debates online, with many questioning how such operations could go unnoticed for years within a faith-based organization. The suspect remains in NDLEA custody, and officials say more arrests are imminent as the investigation widens across multiple countries.
