The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, with 1.550kg of cocaine concealed in the walls and railings of his travelling bag at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Nwankwo, a marble dealer in Lagos, was arrested at Terminal II while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India. According to the NDLEA, he confessed that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise ₦23 million to purchase the cocaine, which he hoped to sell in India for about ₦100 million.

The arrest formed part of a series of nationwide operations by NDLEA operatives that led to the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, cannabis, opioids and other illicit drugs across Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta states.

In Lagos, operatives recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at over ₦2.6 billion from a warehouse in a residential compound at Ago Palace, Okota.

The agency also raided the residence of a suspected drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, 55, at Ipaja, recovered 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at ₦972 million. Two vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Corolla, were also recovered.

In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and arrested 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi. Recovered from the vehicle were 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.

In Kwara, two suspects, Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were arrested at Kam Wire, Ilorin, with 55.96kg of skunk concealed in a truck.

Similarly, operatives in Delta recovered 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 ampoules of tramadol from two suspects along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway.

Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and ₦8 million in cash.

In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol, leading to the arrest of Kasum Sherif.

Kano State recorded another major haul after six suspects were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road with 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

NDLEA operatives also recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg from Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area, arresting two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24.

In Edo State, 4,628.9775kg of skunk was destroyed on two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area. A suspect, Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested during the operation.

Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested at drug joints in Oluku, Benin City, with 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine.

Beyond drug supply reduction, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy activities, including sensitisation lectures for students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos.

Commending the officers and personnel involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the commands for sustaining the agency’s efforts to disrupt drug supply while simultaneously intensifying drug demand reduction initiatives.

The operations covered the period leading up to Sunday, August 16, 2026.