Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a major opioids cartel in Lagos, recovered illicit substances worth over N6.7 billion and arrested a notorious drug baron, Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu, along with five members of his syndicate.
According to release by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA, the arrests followed credible intelligence that the group was storing over 7.2 million tramadol 225mg pills and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million mls) of codeine syrup in a residential warehouse at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, Lagos, ahead of the Christmas festive season.
A Special Operations Unit of the NDLEA executed a two-stage operation between Wednesday, November 19, and Thursday, November 20, 2025. Two syndicate members, Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, were first apprehended while transporting 300 cartons of opioids at Apple Junction, Festac. The following day, officers raided the warehouse, arresting Nwanagu and other key members: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
In total, the operation recovered 7,272,000 tramadol pills valued at N3.96 billion and 53 million mls of codeine syrup worth N2.76 billion, bringing the combined street value of seized drugs to N6.72 billion. The substances were removed from the estate in 11 trucks to NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the operatives for their professionalism, describing the seizure as a major blow to drug syndicates targeting Nigeria’s youth.
“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement. The days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over. This operation sends a stark warning to all merchants of death that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with them,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA reiterated that its focus remain on kingpins and financiers of illicit drugs, pledged continued intelligence-led operations to eradicate drug trafficking networks nationwide.
