Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, 33-year-old Mohammed Sani, popularly known as “Gamboli,” following weeks of intelligence-led manhunt.
The NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that Gamboli was arrested at his hideout in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta, three weeks after he escaped arrest during a raid on his residence in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, on November 20, 2025. During the earlier raid, NDLEA operatives recovered 471.8 kilogrammes of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. Intelligence reports identified Gamboli as a major drug supplier to bandits terrorising communities in Shiroro LGA.
Babafemi also reported multiple arrests and seizures across several states as part of the agency’s nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking.
In Abia State, NDLEA operatives raided a clandestine codeine syrup production facility at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, Osisioma LGA, where 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 1,152.2 kilogrammes were recovered.
In Enugu State, Ossai Emeka, 45, was arrested along the Onitsha–Enugu Ezike Road with 7.2 kilogrammes of skunk, while Enoje Agada, 40, was apprehended along the Enugu-Ezike–Ette Road with 94.6 kilogrammes of the same substance.
A raid at a notorious drug joint known as “Beere the California” in Ido, Oyo State, led to the seizure of 3.4 kilogrammes of skunk, 1.6 kilogrammes of Colorado (synthetic cannabis), and 400 grammes of methamphetamine. The suspected owner of the joint, identified as “Idowu the Killer,” remains at large, while a suspect, Ajibade Faruk, was arrested.
In another operation in Ibadan, Oyo State, NDLEA officers arrested Olusanya Abosede, 35, at Idi Oro, Elekuro, and recovered 238.4 kilogrammes of skunk. In Lagos, Bashiru Babalola, 43, and Ogunwale Ranti, 50, were arrested at the Gbaji checkpoint along Seme Road, Badagry, with 50,000 pills of tramadol (250mg).
In Ogun State, Akinwale Makanjuola and Joseph Owolabi were arrested with 73 kilogrammes of skunk at Iperu, while Wasiu Lateef was nabbed with 25 kilogrammes of the substance at Oke Agbede, Imeko area.
A major seizure was recorded in Ondo State, where NDLEA operatives raided a compound in Ogbese, Akure North LGA, arresting a 55-year-old woman, Veronica Obi, and her 29-year-old son, Bright Obi, with 1,187 kilogrammes of skunk and cannabis seeds.
In Edo State, a suspect, Ohiomah Igbafe, 44, was arrested at Uroe community, Owan East LGA, with 461 kilogrammes of skunk and seeds. In Gombe State, Muhammed Sani, also known as “Sha-Mu-Sha,” 50, was arrested with 40,000 capsules of tramadol, while two others—Muhammad Abdullahi (aka Sakalala), 52, and Muhammed Hamza (aka Mamman), 32—were arrested with 56 kilogrammes of skunk at Ashaka Jalingo.
Babafemi further revealed that 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline, and bromazepam concealed in containers of black soap and designer clothing were intercepted at courier companies in Lagos, en route to the United States, Canada, and Sweden. At the Apapa seaport, NDLEA officers intercepted 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579 kilogrammes during a joint container examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation and various state commands for their professionalism and urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
