NDLEA Busts 6 Major Drug Syndicates, Arrests 9 Kingpins, Seizes Tons of Narcotics
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide offensive against drug trafficking syndicates, dismantling at least six major drug cartels and arresting nine kingpins in a string of coordinated, intelligence-driven operations across the country. The crackdown, which comes ahead of the festive season, has led to the seizure of tons of illicit substances concealed in machine cylinders, auto parts, food items, and even flight boarding passes.
In one of the operations, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, November 18, arrested two members of a drug trafficking organisation in Onitsha, Anambra State, after they attempted to take delivery of consignments hidden inside pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa. The concealed items included 5.40kg of methamphetamine, 10.70kg of Loud (a potent cannabis strain), 16g of cocaine, and quantities of phenacetin, methcathinone, and caffeine.
The arrested suspects—30-year-old electrical appliances dealer, Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, and 51-year-old South Africa returnee, Christopher Michael Ndibuisi—were apprehended during a sting operation following intelligence gathered at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The shipment had arrived on November 13 aboard a Tag-Angola flight and was immediately flagged.
At the Lagos airport, another operation on Thursday, November 20, led to the interception of a brake servo auto part used to conceal 48 pellets and a block of cocaine weighing 2.30kg destined for Gabon. A freight agent, Ameh Solomon, was arrested, and a follow-up operation at the Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, resulted in the arrest of auto parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface.
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer laden with 4,700kg of skunk in Kabba on November 17, arresting three suspects: Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba, and Daniel Danladi. A follow-up operation in Jos on November 21 led to the arrest of the alleged kingpin, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu.
A major bust in Cross River State saw the arrest of a couple—Onun Okoi Okpotum (55) and Itam Okoi Okpotum (52)—in Ugep, Yakurr LGA, where operatives recovered 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4,706kg from their warehouse.
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In Edo State, two young women, Praise Nwogu (19) and Ebong Emem Oghosa (25), were arrested in Benin City for producing and selling drug-laced brownies online. They were found with plates of the brownies as well as quantities of skunk and Colorado. Another suspect, Shedrack Aminu (35), was arrested in Ososo village with 59kg of skunk.
Along Enugu–Onitsha Road, a patrol team intercepted Chinoso Emmanuel Monday (24) with 10.1kg of skunk, over 105,600 tramadol pills, 700 ampoules of pentazocine, and 3,000 rounds of live ammunition.
In Kebbi State, operatives evacuated 13,155 bottles of codeine syrup from a warehouse in Dole-Kaina, Dandi LGA. A suspect, Umar Adamu (23), was arrested with 12,548 opioid pills disguised in paracetamol containers and destined for a Boko Haram enclave in Borno State.
Additionally, two suspects—Anthony Mercy (40) and Sunday Augustine (39)—were nabbed along the Abaji–Abuja expressway with 430.5kg of cannabis, while Samson Dafe (47) was arrested in Niger State with 85,100 opioid pills and 5,456 bottles of codeine syrup. Another raid in Shiroro LGA uncovered 471.8kg of compressed skunk linked to suspect Sani Mohammed.
In Lagos, operatives arrested Usman Ayoola Adegoke in connection with 71kg of Canadian Loud, and a woman, Oluchi Celestine, caught with 2.6kg of Colorado concealed in branded containers and flight boarding cards. A joint operation with the military at the notorious Peti drug enclave on Lagos Island recovered 385kg of various illicit substances and led to multiple arrests. Another operation at Maza Maza motor park yielded 163,200 tramadol capsules.
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA Commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools, religious institutions, and communities in states including Oyo, Lagos, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Enugu, and Ogun.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the operatives across participating commands for their strategic successes. He emphasised the agency’s heightened vigilance ahead of the festive period, a time often exploited by drug cartels.
“The coming weeks present both an opportunity and a challenge,” Marwa said. “Drug cartels may attempt to increase their illegal activities during the busy holiday period. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard.”
He encouraged officers to sustain the agency’s balanced approach combining enforcement and preventive education nationwide.
By PRNigeria
