NDLEA Seizes N3.4bn Drugs, Arrests Fake Police Officer, Mechanic In Nationwide Raids

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted more than 1.3 million tablets and capsules of tramadol and other opioids as well as 6,000 kilograms of cannabis in a series of operations across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The agency said the seizures have a combined estimated street value of more than ₦3.4 billion, with operations carried out in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the FCT.

Among the major breakthroughs was the seizure of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 603.75kg and valued at ₦1.81 billion.

The NDLEA also arrested a 49-year-old suspected trafficker, Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade security checks while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.

Ekpe was arrested on September 16 along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in a silver Toyota Sienna bus. According to the agency, he allegedly operated under the name Godwin Emeka and presented a forged identification card claiming he was a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

A 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop along Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.

The agency said the suspect allegedly used his mechanic workshop as a front for drug storage. Operatives recovered 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152 grammes of methamphetamine, as well as a metal box allegedly used to store the substances.

Canadian Loud Concealed In Vehicles

At the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, which arrived on September 12.

The container was subjected to a joint physical examination involving the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16.

The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg, concealed in 31 black jumbo bags loaded inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles.

In Niger State, three young suspects were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area, on September 15.

The suspects, identified as Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.

The NDLEA said two other suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested on September 18 along the Abaji-Abuja Highway.

More than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets were recovered from them. The drugs were allegedly concealed in eight sacks being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.

More Seizures In Lagos, Gombe, Imo, Ondo

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, on September 18, recovering 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.

At a logistics company in the state, seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg were intercepted, with a suspect, Luke Ugokwe, taken into custody.

Another suspect, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu, was arrested at Apongbo on September 17 with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.

In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested separately at the Barunde area and Gombe main market on September 18.

In Imo State, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.

NDLEA operatives also raided a cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu Forest, Ondo State, where four suspects were arrested during the destruction of about 5,000kg of skunk cultivated on a two-hectare farm.

The suspects were identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday. About 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered from the farm for prosecution purposes.

Beyond the seizures and arrests, the agency said its commands across the country continued with its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The campaigns included enlightenment lectures at St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.

The Delta Ports Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom.

Commending the officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT commands for what he described as professionalism and intelligence-driven operations.

Marwa urged NDLEA personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement operations with prevention, sensitisation and community engagement.