NDLEA Arrests Notorious Drug Kingpin, Uncovers Cocaine, Destroys Over 28,000kg Skunk in Edo Forest
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its clampdown on drug cartels across Nigeria with a series of high-profile interceptions, arrests, and seizures, including the capture of a wanted drug kingpin, Okechukwu Izugha, and the recovery of cocaine and cannabis cleverly concealed in domestic items like lipsticks and microwaves.
In a major breakthrough at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 23 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 11.3kg, hidden inside new microwaves. The cargo, part of a consolidated consignment that arrived via Ethiopian Airlines from Thailand through Addis Ababa, was intercepted on Monday, July 7, 2025, following actionable intelligence. A suspect, Ezenwegbu Chike, has been arrested in connection with the shipment.
Barely a week after 420 grams of cocaine were seized from 84 female lipsticks destined for the UK, another consignment of cocaine, weighing 400 grams, was discovered inside lipsticks packed along with hair attachments and face powder, bound for Malabo, Guinea. The drugs, along with phenacetine—a chemical used to cut cocaine—were recovered from the dismantled lipsticks. A businessman, Ezeikwelume Prince Afam, was arrested at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos, on Friday, July 11, in connection with the smuggling attempt.
In a separate operation, NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit arrested Okechukwu Izugha, also known as Okey Omeogo, a wanted drug kingpin who had been in hiding for nearly a year. He was apprehended on Wednesday, July 9, at his wife’s shop in Ijesha Market, Lagos. Izugha had gone underground after 9kg of cocaine linked to him was seized from a suspect at a Lagos motor park on August 7, 2024. His wife, Maureen Izugha, had earlier been arrested with 500 grams of cocaine and subsequently convicted and sentenced to two years in prison.
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Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed over 28,000kg of skunk cultivated on three cannabis farms spanning 11 hectares in Ewere Uzebba Forest, Owan West LGA, on Tuesday, July 8. During the operation, they came under gunfire from armed cartel members but successfully repelled the attack. Though no officers were harmed, one of their vehicles was riddled with bullets.
Other significant operations included:
Lagos: Seizure of 1,400 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud (700kg) at Okun-Ajah Beach; two suspects, Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul, were arrested with 26kg of Ghana Loud, 123 grams of methamphetamine, and 45 grams of Molly.
Borno State: Arrest of Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi, 42, with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine, tramadol, and rohypnol in Maiduguri; and seizure of 10,000 tramadol pills from Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu, 34.
Gombe State: Recovery of 116,226 pills of tramadol and D-5 from five suspects during separate raids at Gombe main market and Gombe-Kano road.
Kogi State: Arrest of Sabiu Bala with 316.6kg of skunk along the Okene-Lokoja expressway.
Kaduna State: Seizure of 58.8kg of skunk from Haladu Suleiman, 38, in Gubuchi area of Ikara LGA.
Taraba State: Arrest of Auwal Ibrahim, Lukman Ibrahim, and Hamza Adamu with 577,890 pills of opioids and 1.16kg of skunk hidden in the tyre compartment of a petrol tanker at Lanka Viri checkpoint.
Kano State: Apprehension of Shamsudini Abdullahi, Adamu Abdullahi, and Magaji Rabo with 48.1kg of skunk in Janguza Barracks area.
In addition to enforcement, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy efforts across the country. Sensitization campaigns were conducted at educational institutions including Word of Promise High School, Calabar; Government Girls Arabic Senior Secondary School, Wudil; Community Secondary School, Umundu; Okemagba Senior High School, Epe; Bishop Gideon Otubelu Memorial College, Ukpo; and with traditional rulers in Bende, Abia State.
Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the dedication of the officers and men of NDLEA’s Commands in MMIA, SOU, Edo, Lagos, Taraba, Kano, Kogi, Gombe, Borno, and Kaduna for their recent successes. He also praised the agency’s consistent efforts in balancing drug supply suppression with demand reduction nationwide.
By PRNigeria
