Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recorded major breakthroughs in multiple states, seizing illicit drugs valued at over ₦3.4 billion, intercepting explosives, and apprehending a long-wanted drug kingpin.
In an official statement issued on Sunday, 4th May 2025, Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, detailed the series of coordinated operations. In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a joint security task force on 29th April uncovered over two million pills of tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup during the examination of a flagged container at the Onne Port.
In Lagos, operatives recovered 1.5 million pills of opioids from a suspect, Olarenwaju Wahab, at the Alaba-Rago area. Investigations traced the source of the consignment to the residence of Obinna Kenneth, who remains at large.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 20kg. The drugs were concealed in tins of chocolate, milo, and kidney beans within cargo that arrived on a British Airways flight from Canada. Three suspects, including Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
Further arrests were made at the Lagos airport on 2nd May when a passenger, Bobby Morris Osas, was apprehended while attempting to smuggle 8,130 tramadol pills to Italy. Separately, on 28th April, NDLEA operatives foiled an attempt to export tramadol and skunk concealed in body cream bottles to Iraq via a courier service.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway on 3rd May intercepted a commercial vehicle transporting 942 concealed explosives. The suspect, Nura Sani Muhammad, was arrested, and NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has directed the transfer of the suspect and exhibits to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
In Kano, on 30th April, five members of a drug syndicate led by Aminu Musa (alias Kadagi) were arrested with 21.6kg of skunk. In Edo State, operatives intercepted a vehicle on 1st May transporting over 314,000 pills of assorted opioids, leading to the arrest of suspect Dare Adeyemo.
Similar operations in Anambra and Niger States yielded the seizure of thousands of pills and ampoules of controlled substances. Suspects Chinedu Eneh and Yusuf Abubakar were taken into custody in these respective states.
After a 10-month investigation, NDLEA operatives apprehended Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku, Managing Director of Ovidaq International Ltd, on 26th April. He was implicated in the importation of over 2.6 million tramadol pills intercepted at Apapa Port, Lagos, in July 2024. A subsequent search of his Lekki residence resulted in the recovery of 51 wraps of Canadian Loud.
Meanwhile, NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continues nationwide, with recent sensitization lectures delivered to students and staff in Kano and Katsina States.
Chairman Marwa commended officers across all commands for their dedication and urged sustained efforts to balance drug supply reduction with demand reduction initiatives.
