EFCC Arrests 14 Chinese at Illegal Lithium Plants in Ogun State

Nigerian authorities arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian at four illegal lithium processing plants in Ogun State on October 23, 2026.

EFCC Raids Illegal Lithium Plants in Nigeria

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian at four illegal lithium processing plants in the Ogere area of Ogun State. [1] The suspects were arrested on Friday, October 23, 2026. [1] Upon their arrest, bags of lithium rocks, 18 mobile devices, four computer laptops, two decoders, a television remote control, and a trailer truck were recovered from the suspects. [1] The anti-graft agency stated on Monday via its X handle that the operation was carried out when its operatives busted the illegal lithium plants. [1] The 15 suspects were arrested last Friday, October 23, 2026. [1] The tweet read that operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested 14 Chinese and one Nigerian at four illegal lithium processing plants in the Ogere area of Ogun State. [1]

Background of the Nigerian Operation

The operation was carried out following credible intelligence and surveillance. [1] The suspects were arrested on Friday, October 23, 2026, following credible intelligence and surveillance. [1] The suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations. [1] The anti-graft agency stated on Monday via its X handle that the operation was carried out when its operatives busted the illegal lithium plants. [1] The tweet added that the suspects will be charged in court upon conclusion of investigations. [1]

South Korean Drug Suspect Repatriated After 22 Years

A man in his 80s, suspected of transporting more than 5 tons of narcotics aboard a fishing vessel in waters off South America in the early 2000s, has been repatriated to South Korea after spending 22 years on the run. [4] The Korean National Police Agency said the man, whose identity was withheld, was brought back home on Oct. 20 in coordination with the Busan Coast Guard after being deported by authorities in Ghana, where he had been hiding for about 22 years. [4] The man is accused of transporting narcotics on behalf of a drug trafficking organization on five separate occasions in international waters off South America between 2002 and 2004, when he was serving as a supervisor of a deep-sea fishing vessel, and receiving payment for the shipments. [4] The Korean National Police Agency said the transported narcotics are believed to have been 5,385 kilograms of cocaine worth about 4.8 trillion won (US$3.6 billion). [4] The suspect fled to Ghana after his accomplices were arrested and lived there as an undocumented immigrant from around 2004. [4] His repatriation came after the Busan Coast Guard placed him on Interpol's wanted list and the Korean National Police Agency confirmed his whereabouts through information sharing with the Ghanaian police. [4] A drug trafficking suspect in his 80s arrives in South Korea in a wheelchair after hiding in Ghana for about 22 years in this photo provided by the Korean National Police Agency on Oct. 26, 2026. [4]

Repeat Drug Import Offender Sentenced in New Zealand

Ex-Air NZ baggage handler Puapii Mokotua has been sentenced, again, for illegal drug import schemes at Auckland Airport. [2] After an Air New Zealand baggage handler found himself at the centre of a major investigation into large-scale drug importations resulting in his arrest and the loss of his job, he wasn’t deterred from pressing on with the high-risk, quick-money scheme. [2] Puapii Mason Mokotua instead took part in further illegal methamphetamine import schemes at Auckland Airport. [2]

Anambra Police Nab Wanted Robbery and Kidnapping Suspect

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 26-year-old wanted suspect, Udochukwu Okafor, popularly known as Small-Moto, during an operation in Ebenebe community, Awka North Local Government Area of the state. [5] The command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday, saying operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, arrested the suspect on Saturday following an intelligence-led operation. [5] Ikenga said preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspect allegedly snatched a pump-action firearm from a vigilante operative in Ebenebe. [5] Okafor had been on the command’s wanted list over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, cult-related activities and secessionist-related offences. [5] The operation was conducted by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, following intelligence-led efforts to apprehend the suspect, who was reportedly on the command’s wanted list over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, cult-related activities and secessionist-related offences. [5] During preliminary interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to snatching a pump-action firearm from a vigilante operative in Ebenebe. [5] He also reportedly disclosed possession of a locally made short gun, which he and other members of his alleged gang were said to have used in their criminal operations. [5] The suspect further allegedly admitted to membership of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, also known as ‘Aro-Baggers’, a group suspected of involvement in cult-related violence in Awka and its environs. [5] Ikenga said the command had intensified investigations to recover the firearms allegedly mentioned by the suspect and establish the full extent of his suspected involvement in criminal activities. [5] The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue. [5]

Allegations of Migrant Abuse at Turkish Border

Several Afghan migrants have allegedly been tortured by Turkish police after being detained near the Iran-Turkey border, with sources reporting that some had their fingers and toes broken in the Maku border region. [3] The sources reported on October 25 that Turkish police mistreated Afghan migrants who were attempting to cross the border from Iran into Turkey. [3]

What to watch next includes further updates from the Anambra State Police Command on efforts to apprehend other suspected members of the gang who remained at large and from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on charging the 15 suspects in court upon conclusion of investigations.