NDLEA busts N10bn drug syndicates, arrests alleged kingpins in nationwide operations

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking, intercepting illicit drugs worth more than N10 billion and arresting several suspected traffickers in a series of intelligence-led operations across Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina, and Edo states.

The operations, which also uncovered military-grade ammunition concealed in palm oil kegs, resulted in the arrest of suspected drug kingpins allegedly involved in international cocaine trafficking to the United Kingdom.

According to the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, one of the principal suspects, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a 55-year-old clothing dealer at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, was arrested after investigations linked him to a 3.30-kilogram cocaine shipment concealed inside the walls of cartons containing food items meant for export to the United Kingdom through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

Babafemi explained that the cocaine consignment was intercepted at the airport’s export shed, leading to the arrest of three cargo agents identified as Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed, and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment.

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Further investigations led operatives to another suspect, Kenneth Okakpu, who reportedly delivered the consignment to the cargo agents. His arrest eventually exposed Chinedu as the alleged mastermind behind the trafficking network.

The NDLEA spokesman disclosed that Chinedu was apprehended while allegedly preparing to ship another cocaine consignment to the UK.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, a 31-year-old entrepreneur, at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, after intercepting a 2.80-kilogram consignment of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis.

The illicit drug had arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight before it was tracked to the suspect.

The anti-narcotics agency also announced the seizure of 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, an opioid valued at over N2.2 billion, during a joint examination of cargo imported from India aboard an Air Maroc flight at the Lagos airport.

Babafemi said the interception followed credible intelligence processed by the agency.

In a related operation, NDLEA officers also intercepted a shipment of tramadol hidden inside containers of black soap at a Lagos courier company while it was being prepared for export to the United Kingdom.

At the Apapa Seaport, operatives uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5 kilograms, concealed inside three imported vehicles.

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The agency estimated the street value of the seized drugs at over N7.1 billion, describing it as one of the largest cannabis seizures recorded at the port.

Beyond drug-related operations, NDLEA operatives intercepted military-grade ammunition during separate operations in northern Nigeria.

Babafemi said Mustapha Sani, 30, was arrested during a patrol at Baure in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.

In another operation, Abubakar Amadu, also 30, was arrested during a stop-and-search exercise at Jere along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway after officers discovered 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of red palm oil.

He said both suspects had been transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ilushi community, Esan South-East Local Government Area, where they recovered 1,286 kilograms of cannabis and 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds.

The operation also led to the arrest of Ojore Onweze, 45, and George Agwumede, 30, who were allegedly found with 60 kilograms and 13 kilograms of skunk, respectively.

Babafemi noted that the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign with sensitisation programmes conducted in schools and communities across Niger, Kano, and Lagos states.

Reacting to the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) as well as personnel of the MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna, and Katsina Commands for their efforts.

Marwa urged officers nationwide to remain committed to the agency’s strategy of combining aggressive drug supply reduction with sustained public awareness campaigns aimed at curbing drug abuse across the country.