The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth more than N10 billion in a series of intelligence-led operations across Lagos and other parts of the country, arresting suspected drug kingpins and recovering military-grade ammunition concealed in kegs of palm oil.
The operations led to the seizure of cocaine, synthetic cannabis popularly known as “Loud”, over two million opioid pills, and large consignments of cannabis allegedly destined for local and international markets.
Among those arrested is 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Chinedu, a clothing trader at Lagos Island’s Balogun Market, who was identified by the agency as the alleged leader of an international cocaine trafficking syndicate.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Chinedu was arrested on Thursday after investigations linked him to an attempt to export 3.3 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed within the walls of cartons containing food items destined for the United Kingdom.
The cocaine shipment had earlier been intercepted at the export section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Wednesday. Initial investigations resulted in the arrest of three cargo agents—Nkwor Justina, Adeleke Taoheed and Ukanwa Pilgrim—as well as Kenneth Okakpu, who delivered the consignment, before intelligence led operatives to Chinedu, who was allegedly preparing another cocaine shipment for the UK.
In another major breakthrough, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo at her Surulere residence after intercepting 2.8 kilogrammes of Loud, a highly potent synthetic cannabis strain, imported from the United States on a United Airlines flight.
The agency also recorded one of its largest pharmaceutical drug seizures with the interception of 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at over N2.2 billion, from a shipment that arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight following intelligence processing.
In a related operation, officers foiled another attempt to smuggle tramadol to the United Kingdom after discovering the opioid concealed inside containers of black soap at a Lagos courier facility.
At the Apapa Seaport, a joint examination by security agencies uncovered 2,388.5 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, packed in 4,777 sachets and hidden inside three imported vehicles. The seized narcotics have an estimated street value exceeding N7.1 billion, making it one of the largest cannabis seizures recorded this year.
Beyond drug enforcement, NDLEA operatives also intercepted military-grade ammunition during separate operations in Katsina and Kaduna states.
In Katsina, Mustapha Sani, 30, was arrested during a patrol operation in Baure, Safana Local Government Area, with 323 rounds of ammunition, comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.
Similarly, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was apprehended along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of red palm oil. The suspects have since been handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigation.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ilushi, Esan South-East Local Government Area, where they recovered 1,286 kilogrammes of cannabis and 86 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds. Two additional suspects were arrested in separate operations with a combined 73 kilogrammes of skunk.
The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with anti-drug sensitisation programmes conducted in schools and communities across Niger, Kano and Lagos states to discourage substance abuse among young people.
Commending officers involved in the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised personnel of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation as well as commands at MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna and Katsina for the major breakthroughs.
He urged officers nationwide to sustain the agency’s dual strategy of aggressive drug interdiction and preventive public education in the ongoing campaign against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse across the country.
