NDLEA Seizes N3.4 Billion Worth of Illicit Drugs in Lagos, Rivers, Arrests Wanted Drug Kingpin, Intercepts Zamfara-Bound Explosives
In a major crackdown on drug trafficking and related criminal activities, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized illicit drugs worth over N3.4 billion in Lagos and Port Harcourt, arrested a long-wanted drug kingpin, and intercepted a cache of explosives bound for Zamfara State.
The agency announced on Sunday, May 4, 2025, that it confiscated over 3.5 million pills of opioids and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup in coordinated operations across multiple states.
The largest seizure occurred at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, where 2 million pills of tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup were intercepted on April 29 during a joint inspection of a watch-listed container involving the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies.
Similarly in Lagos, operatives apprehended a suspect, Olarenwaju Wahab, in the Alaba-Rago area of Ojo, with 1.5 million pills of a controlled opioid. Further investigation traced the consignment’s origin to Victoria Garden City, Lekki—residence of a suspect identified as Obinna Kenneth, who remains at large.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA officers seized 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 20kg. The drugs were ingeniously hidden in tins of chocolate, Milo, and kidney beans aboard a British Airways flight from Canada. Three suspects, including the intended recipient, Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, were arrested between April 30 and May 3.
Also at MMIA, a businessman, Bobby Morris Osas, was arrested on May 2 while attempting to board a flight to Italy with 8,130 pills of tramadol. A similar attempt to smuggle 104 grams of tramadol and skunk to Iraq through a courier service in Lagos was thwarted on April 28.
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In a related operation in Kaduna, a commercial vehicle heading to Zamfara from Nasarawa was intercepted on May 3. Officers discovered 942 explosives concealed in a sack, leading to the arrest of 30-year-old Nura Sani Muhammad, also known as Nura Hariji. The NDLEA has since handed over the suspect and the explosives to relevant security agencies.
In Kano State, a syndicate led by Aminu Musa (aka Kadagi) was busted at Dangoro Market on April 30 with 50 blocks of skunk weighing 21.6kg. In Edo State, NDLEA operatives stopped a white Toyota bus on May 1 carrying assorted opioids from Onitsha to Auchi. The drugs included over 314,000 pills of tramadol, rophynol, diazepam, and other substances. A suspect, Dare Adeyemo, was arrested.
In Anambra, 50,400 capsules of tramadol, co-codamol, and pentazocine injection were recovered from a commercial bus at Agu-Awka junction, with suspect Chinedu Eneh in custody.
Similarly, in Niger State, officers intercepted a truck on the Kontagora-Mokwa road on May 3, uncovering 5,500 capsules of tramadol and 2,300 ampoules of pentazocine, with Yusuf Abubakar, 30, arrested.
In a major breakthrough, the NDLEA finally arrested Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku, the 52-year-old Managing Director of Ovidaq International Ltd, after a 10-month manhunt. Obijiaku was linked to a shipment of 2.6 million pills of tramadol seized at the Apapa seaport in July 2024. A follow-up search at his Lekki residence yielded 51 wraps of Canadian Loud.
Meanwhile, NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy continued with sensitization campaigns at Al-Istigama University, Kano, and Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina State.
Commending the agency’s field officers, NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded the efforts of commands across Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Kaduna, Anambra, Edo, Niger, and Apapa for balancing both drug supply reduction and demand reduction strategies.
“These operations demonstrate our unrelenting resolve to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs and related crimes,” Marwa stated.
The NDLEA continues to urge the public to support the agency’s efforts by reporting drug-related activities in their communities.
By PRNigeria
