The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 10,000 pills of the dangerous stimulant known as Captagon in Kwara State, in a major operation that underscored growing concerns over attempts to reintroduce the terror-linked drug into Nigeria.
The seizure was made on April 21, 2026, along the Bode Saadu road, where operatives stopped a passenger-laden trailer and recovered the illicit consignment from a 33-year-old suspect, Nasiru Mu’azu. The haul included 10 packs of Captagon and additional quantities of Tapentadol. Captagon, an amphetamine widely associated with armed groups in the Middle East, is known for inducing extreme alertness and reducing fear, raising security concerns globally.
In a separate operation at the same patrol point on April 24, NDLEA officers uncovered a hidden compartment in a trailer transporting a large quantity of controlled drugs. Recovered items included 155,900 tramadol capsules, 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection, and thousands of tablets of other prescription medications. A suspect, Aminu Isah, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Meanwhile, in Oyo State, operatives intercepted a commercial bus along the Ibadan/Oyo expressway and arrested a passenger, Eze Prince Emeka, who had ingested illicit drugs. Under observation, he excreted 45 wraps of cocaine weighing over one kilogram. Investigations revealed he intended to transport the drugs through trans-Saharan routes to Europe.
Further operations across the country led to multiple seizures. In Edo State, officers intercepted nearly 1.2 million opioid pills along the Benin-Lagos expressway, arresting two suspects. In Lagos, a suspect was apprehended with 810 kilograms of a cannabis strain, while another was arrested in Bauchi State with 154.5 kilograms of skunk.
In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives recovered 466.8 kilograms of cannabis from a residential property, while a major raid in Cross River State led to the destruction of 20,000 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on farmland. In Niger State, 394 components suspected to be used for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were intercepted, with the suspect to be handed over to appropriate security agencies.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across the affected states for their coordinated efforts. He described the Captagon seizure as a significant disruption of attempts by drug syndicates to revive trafficking routes previously dismantled after a landmark interception at Apapa seaport five years ago.
Marwa warned that Captagon remains a major threat due to its links to violent groups, stressing that the agency remains vigilant. “We are not just seizing pills; we are disrupting the fuel that powers violence in our communities,” he said, reaffirming NDLEA’s commitment to preventing the drug from gaining a foothold in Nigeria.
The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign nationwide, conducting sensitization programmes in schools, communities, and institutions to curb drug demand alongside enforcement efforts.
