NDLEA Busts ₦10bn Drug Syndicate, Arrests Alleged Kingpin, Seizes Ammunition and UK-Bound Cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted cocaine, cannabis and other illicit drugs with an estimated street value of over ₦10 billion in a series of operations across the country, leading to the arrest of an alleged drug kingpin, the recovery of military-grade ammunition and the seizure of a United Kingdom-bound tramadol shipment concealed in black soap containers.

According to the agency, operatives arrested 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who trades in clothing at Balogun Market on Lagos Island, for allegedly attempting to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the walls of cartons used to package food items destined for the United Kingdom.

The agency said the arrest followed the interception of the cocaine shipment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Three cargo agents—Nkwor Justina, Adeleke Taoheed and Ukanwa Pilgrim—were initially arrested, leading investigators to Kenneth Okakpu, who allegedly delivered the consignment for shipment.

Further investigations reportedly identified Onuigbo as the alleged leader of the trafficking syndicate. He was subsequently arrested while allegedly preparing another cocaine shipment to the UK.

In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, following the interception of a consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, shipped from the United States.

The agency also intercepted a shipment from India containing 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol, valued at over ₦2.2 billion, during an operation at the Lagos airport.

Operatives further uncovered a consignment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap at a Lagos courier company while the package was being prepared for export to the United Kingdom.

At the Apapa Seaport, NDLEA officers, working with other security agencies, discovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud hidden inside three imported vehicles. The illicit drugs have an estimated street value of more than ₦7.1 billion.

In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested 30-year-old Mustapha Sani during a patrol operation in Baure, Safana Local Government Area. He was allegedly found with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 123 rounds of another 7.62mm calibre.

Another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation at Jere along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway after officers allegedly discovered 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed in kegs of palm oil. The agency said both suspects had been handed over to the appropriate security authorities for further investigation.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ilushi community, Esan South-East Local Government Area, where they recovered large quantities of cannabis and 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds.

Two additional suspects, Ojore Onweze and George Agwumede, were arrested with 60 kilograms and 13 kilograms of skunk, respectively, during separate operations.

The agency said the seizures and arrests underscore its sustained efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and prevent illicit substances and other dangerous items from entering or leaving the country.