The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs valued at over ₦10 billion, including cocaine, Canadian Loud, Tapentadol and tramadol, in a series of coordinated operations across Lagos, while also arresting several suspected drug kingpins linked to international trafficking syndicates.
The operations also led to the recovery of 401 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed in kegs of palm oil in Kaduna and Katsina States, while a consignment of tramadol hidden inside containers of black soap and bound for the United Kingdom was seized.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives arrested Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a 55-year-old clothing trader at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, for allegedly masterminding an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons containing food items destined for the UK.
The cocaine shipment was intercepted at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on July 22. Investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim—as well as Kenneth Okakpu, who delivered the consignment. Further investigations identified Onuigbo as the alleged kingpin behind the trafficking syndicate, leading to his arrest on July 23 while attempting to ship another cocaine consignment.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, 31, at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, following the seizure of 2.80 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which had arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight.
The agency also intercepted 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at over ₦2.2 billion, during a joint examination of cargo from India that arrived aboard an Air Maroc flight at the Lagos airport. The operation followed intelligence processed by the NDLEA.
Similarly, operatives at a Lagos courier company intercepted a UK-bound shipment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap.
At the Apapa Seaport, NDLEA uncovered 2,388.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud hidden inside three imported vehicles in a container. The seized drugs, packed in 4,777 sachets, have an estimated street value of over ₦7.1 billion.
In Katsina State, operatives arrested Mustapha Sani, 30, during a patrol at Baure in Safana Local Government Area, with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.
Another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of palm oil. Both suspects and the recovered ammunition have been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ilushi Community, Esan South-East Local Government Area, recovering 1,286 kilograms of cannabis and 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds. Two suspects, Ojore Onweze, 45, and George Agwumede, 30, were also arrested with 60kg and 13kg of skunk respectively.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said it sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools and communities across the country, including Government Day Secondary School, Sabon Wuse in Niger State; Government Girls Secondary School, Shekara in Kano State; and Otto Primary School, Ebute Metta, Lagos.
Commending officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), as well as commands in Lagos, Edo, Kaduna and Katsina, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), urged personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach of aggressive drug supply reduction alongside drug demand reduction through public education and advocacy.
