Daud Olatunji
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 28-year-old American professional basketball player, Greene Da’monte Khiree, after recovering 33.95 kilogrammes of a potent strain of cannabis, popularly known as Loud, from two bags allegedly abandoned by the suspect at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The arrest was part of a series of intelligence-led operations by the anti-narcotics agency across several states, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of illicit drugs, the arrest of suspected traffickers and the discovery of an illegal firearms fabrication factory in Kaduna State.
The NDLEA said the American national was arrested on Wednesday, November 11, shortly after arriving in Lagos aboard an Emirates Airline flight from Thailand through Dubai.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect had been placed under discreet surveillance following intelligence reports about his activities.
Babafemi said operatives observed the American abandoning his two checked-in bags before attempting to leave the airport with only his carry-on luggage.
He was subsequently apprehended at the airport car park.
A search of the abandoned bags, which reportedly bore his name tags, led to the discovery of 32 parcels of Loud, with 16 parcels recovered from each bag.
The seized substance weighed a total of 33.95 kilogrammes, while a tracking device was also recovered from the luggage.
The suspect, said to be a native of Savannah, Georgia, United States, reportedly told investigators that he had been living in Thailand since October 2025, where he played professional basketball.
He allegedly claimed that his visit to Nigeria was for a holiday and to establish networks that could advance his basketball career.
However, the agency said a forensic examination of his mobile phone uncovered information suggesting that he had prior knowledge of and involvement in the drug trafficking operation.
In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a 33-year-old man, Taiwo Adebayo Aderoju, at Ebute Metta on Tuesday, November 10, recovering 119.71 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa from him.
Similarly, a joint operation in the Ajah area of the state on Saturday, November 14, led to the recovery of various illicit substances from a silver Toyota Sienna allegedly abandoned by a fleeing suspect.
The recovered drugs included 78.8 kilogrammes of cannabis, 2.5 litres of skuchies, 6.8 litres of codeine syrup, 23 grammes of Rohypnol, 478 grammes of tramadol, 10.6 kilogrammes of nitrous oxide and 714 grammes of pregabalin.
Gun Factory Uncovered In Kaduna
In Kaduna State, the agency said its operatives uncovered a suspected illegal firearms fabrication factory at Sabon Garin Kangin during a raid on Monday, November 9.
A 45-year-old suspect, identified as Sagiru Musa, was arrested in connection with the discovery.
Items recovered from the facility included 17 locally fabricated Dane guns, two pistols, 25 Dane gun pipes and other materials allegedly used in the production of firearms.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives patrolling the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway intercepted a 31-year-old woman, Tabara Dauda, at Jere on Friday, November 13.
