NDLEA Seizes N6.5bn Opioids, Arrests 2 British Nationals
In a major breakthrough in the ongoing war against illicit drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted opioids and codeine syrup worth over N6.5 billion at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Rivers State and the Apapa Seaport in Lagos. This development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
The agency revealed that six million pills of tamol 225mg, tapentadol 225mg, carisoprodol 225mg, and 332,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered through intelligence-led operations and 100 percent cargo inspections. Specifically, the seizures at the Onne Ports in Port Harcourt occurred on May 19 and 20, during a joint examination involving NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies. At Apapa Port, another 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were found on May 22.
In another coordinated sting operation, two British nationals and two Nigerians were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while attempting to smuggle 92 bags of Loud, a potent cannabis strain, weighing 51.10kg.
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The suspects—Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole, and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami—were nabbed at the airport car park after NDLEA operatives closely monitored the handover of the illicit cargo brought in by Qatar Airways from Doha. A follow-up search of the syndicate leader’s apartment in Lekki led to the seizure of N3.8 million, 17,200 South African Rand, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four nitrous oxide canisters.
Meanwhile, in ongoing operations across the country, NDLEA operatives destroyed over 77,000kg of skunk on cannabis farms in Cross River and Edo States, with significant recoveries in Nasarawa (4,000kg), Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, and Niger States. Notably, in Nasarawa’s Keffi area, two suspects were caught transporting skunk concealed beneath unprocessed wood in a lorry, while another was arrested in Karu with 154.5kg of the substance.
In Lagos, multiple raids across Lekki and Ibeju-Lekki communities resulted in arrests and seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, codeine, cannabis, molly, and laughing gas, further crippling local drug distribution networks.
As part of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, NDLEA also conducted sensitization programs in schools across Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Adamawa, and Kano States, while the Lagos Command paid an advocacy visit to the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Muhammadu Bambado.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended officers from various state commands involved in the week’s operations for their unwavering commitment to both supply and demand reduction efforts in the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
