The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth billions of naira in coordinated operations across several states, including Lagos, Kwara, Oyo, Kano, Edo, Plateau and Delta.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, while attempting to travel to New Delhi, India, with 1.550 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls and railings of his travelling bag.
Onyebuchi, who dealt in marble in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the consignment, which he expected to sell for up to N100 million in India.
The suspect is currently in NDLEA custody and is expected to face prosecution.
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse located within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
The controlled substance, seized between Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, 2026, was valued at more than N2.6 billion.
At Ipaja Estate, Lagos, operatives also raided the residence of a 55-year-old suspected drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare Street.
The operation led to the recovery of 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N972 million.
Two vehicles—a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla—were also recovered from the suspect.
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at the Kam Wire area of Ilorin on Thursday, August 13. They were found in possession of 55.96 kilograms of skunk in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.
In Oyo State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway arrested 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi. Recovered from their Toyota Sienna vehicle, marked FFA-115KA, were 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.
Along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway, two suspects, Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, were arrested with 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of Rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 ampoules of tramadol.
Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 pieces of cartridges and N8 million in cash.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla, registration number MKD 341 EA, along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Kano State also recorded major seizures, with six suspects arrested during a patrol along the Zaria-Kano Road on Monday, August 10. They were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.
The suspects were found with 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, another synthetic strain of cannabis.
In another operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on Friday, August 14, recovering 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8 kilograms. Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775 kilograms of skunk cultivated on two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area. A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested during the raid.
Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City. He was found with 25.857 kilograms of Loud and 93 grams of methamphetamine.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across the country, including lectures for students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos.
Commending officers and personnel involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands for their efforts.
Marwa said the agency remained committed to striking a balance between disrupting the supply of illicit drugs and reducing demand through sustained public education and advocacy.
