NDLEA Raids Lagos Estate, Seizes N6.7bn Opioids, Arrests Drug Baron, 5 Others
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered and dismantled a major opioids trafficking cartel in Lagos, recovering illicit drugs valued at over N6.7 billion and arresting a suspected drug baron, Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu, alongside five members of his network.
The breakthrough followed an intelligence-driven operation targeting a drug trafficking organisation (DTO) allegedly planning to flood the market with over 7.2 million tramadol pills and 526,200 bottles of codeine syrup ahead of the Christmas season. The substances were stockpiled in a residential compound at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, Isolo, Lagos.
A special NDLEA operations team launched a coordinated raid between Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 November 2025. The first sweep led to the arrest of two syndicate members — Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel — at Apple Junction, Festac, where they were caught conveying 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.
A follow-up operation on Thursday at the cartel’s secret warehouse resulted in the arrest of the alleged kingpin Nwanagu and three other accomplices: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
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In total, officers recovered 7,272,000 pills of tramadol 225mg valued at N3.96 billion and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup worth N2.76 billion, bringing the combined street value of the seized drugs to N6,722,550,000. The exhibits were evacuated from the estate in 11 trucks and transferred to the NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos.
The NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), lauded the operatives of the Special Operations Unit and Strike Force for what he described as a significant victory over criminal cartels targeting Nigerian youths.
“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement,” Marwa said. “The seizure of this colossal volume of illicit drugs, which could have fueled addiction, crime and insecurity across our nation, represents a victory for the Nigerian people and a confirmation of our unwavering commitment to the mandate given to us by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Marwa stressed that the NDLEA will continue to focus on dismantling the leadership structures of drug syndicates. “The days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over. The arrest of this drug baron and his criminal cohorts serves as a stark reminder that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with every merchant of death, no matter how deeply concealed they think they are.”
The NDLEA reaffirmed its resolve to intensify nationwide operations as part of ongoing efforts to curb the circulation of illicit substances.
By PRNigeria
