The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious 60-year-old drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, who had been on the run since 2019. His arrest mark a major milestone in the agency’s ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks across the country.
Okpara was apprehended on Sunday, 13th July 2025, at his hideout located at 72 Michael Ojo Street, Isheri, Ojo area of Lagos State, following the interception of a drug consignment linked to him earlier that morning. At about 5:45am, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, arrested his courier, Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, 51, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Ilasamaja, while en route to Onitsha, Anambra State in a white Toyota Sienna.
A search of the vehicle with the help of sniffer dogs revealed 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine hidden in concealed compartments. A follow-up operation at Okpara’s residence led to the recovery of an additional 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with Aviation Security personnel, on Wednesday, 16th July, intercepted 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from the luggage of an Italy-bound passenger, Omoregie Nice Uyiosa, who claimed to have purchased the drugs for resale in Italy.
In a separate operation at the Lagos airport export shed on Thursday, 17th July, officers uncovered 17 parcels of skunk weighing 1.70kg, concealed in Golden Morn cereal packs and destined for Pakistan. Chioba Robert Uchenna, who presented the cargo for shipment, was arrested.
Another raid was conducted on Saturday, 19th July at Sarah Sam Hotels, 115 Ogudu Road, Kosofe, Lagos, where party drugs were being distributed. The operation led to the arrest of Obayemi Oyetade, who was found in possession of 1.30kg of chocolate cannabis, 900 grams of drug-laced gummies, and 22.9 grams of skunk. The hotel, a 20-room facility also housing his mother and siblings, was reportedly being used as a drug hub. Three vehicles were recovered during the operation.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects during a raid in the Narayi High Cost area of Chikun Local Government Area, where a total of 742.866 kilograms of skunk and Colorado were seized. In Kano, Lawan Rabiu was apprehended with 36,000 tramadol pills along the Danbatta-Kazaure Road.
In Gombe, a suspect, Aliyu Abubakar, was caught with 25,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 at Gombe roundabout. On the same day, Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were intercepted with 49 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 29kg at Kwadom in Yemaltu Deba LGA.
In Borno State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Baga Road, Maiduguri, arrested 44-year-old Audu Modu after seizing 74,360 pills of opioids concealed in a Mercedes Benz C180 vehicle.
A 63-year-old grandmother, Akuna Nelson, was also arrested in the Osiri area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday, 17th July, in connection with the discovery of 163 litres of a local narcotic mixture known as “skuchies.”
On the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State, four suspects — Ikechukw Abugu, Sunday Ani, Chukwu Christian, and Emmanuel Olisakwe were arrested with 2kg of methamphetamine hidden in their vehicle travelling from Onitsha to Minna.
In Abia State, a raid at the residence of a notorious drug dealer, Nduka Obi, aged 39, at 4 Niger Street, Ugwa Road, Aba, led to the recovery of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, and ₦736,000 in cash.
Further patrol activities along the Onitsha-Enugu expressway in Enugu State led to the arrest of Chisom Okpalaeke, 30, who was caught with 45,000 pills of tramadol. In Taraba State, NDLEA officers apprehended two suspects, Ngwokwoka Thomas and Mohammed Audu, at Dan Anacha in Gassol Local Government Area, with 10,000 caps of tramadol and a gram of cannabis.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Osun State destroyed a massive 101,150 kilograms of cannabis (skunk) concealed in a forest area during a large-scale eradication operation.
The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy efforts across several states. Awareness lectures and sensitization campaigns were conducted in secondary and Qur’anic schools in Niger, Adamawa, Enugu, Anambra, and Kano states during the week under review.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and men of the MMIA, SOU, Lagos, Kaduna, Osun, Bayelsa, Gombe, Borno, Abia, Kogi, Enugu, and Taraba Commands for their successes. He also praised all other commands nationwide for maintaining a balanced focus on both drug supply reduction and demand reduction strategies.
