The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully apprehended an alleged drug baron, Hakeem Babatunde Salami, known as the leader of the ‘Tajudeen Babatunde Abioye Transnational Criminal Organization.’
In the words of Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy for the NDLEA, Salami was deeply involved in the illicit trafficking of a range of narcotics, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ephedrine, with operations spanning across Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe.
Babafemi reported that the NDLEA’s operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos successfully took Salami into custody on Tuesday, October 10.
As he explained, Salami had fled to South Africa following the arrest of a member of his criminal syndicate, Suleiman Babatunde Oba, at Lagos airport on August 25. Suleiman had been apprehended while attempting to export 25.10kg of ephedrine to South Africa.
According to the NDLEA’s statement,
“Operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos on Tuesday 10th October succeeded in taking into custody, Hakeem Babatunde Salami, the arrowhead of ‘Tajudeen Babatunde Abioye Transnational Criminal Organization’ involved in the illicit trade of several narcotics including Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Ephedrine between Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe.
“He fled Nigeria to South Africa upon the arrest of a member of his syndicate, Suleiman Babatunde Oba at the Lagos airport on August 25 over an attempt to export 25.10kg of ephedrine to South Africa.
“Hakeem Babatunde Salami was however smoked out of hiding through partnership with South African authorities and other intelligence and investigative mechanisms. While some of his luxury vehicles have been seized and his home in Surulere Lagos sealed, other members of the cartel already in custody include Suleiman and Godwin Edet Mathew.
“In his statement, he claimed he was into the importation of building materials from China to Nigeria and used to sell gold in South Africa before delving into the illicit drug trade about two years ago.
| Sahara Reporters
