NDLEA records major breakthrough, intercept drugs hidden in water purifiers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have uncovered a consignment of illicit drugs concealed inside water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos, as part of a series of coordinated nationwide anti-narcotics operations.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the shipment was intercepted on May 26, 2026, at a courier company in Lagos following intelligence-led surveillance.

The agency disclosed that the seized items included three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, which were carefully hidden within the compartments of the water purifier machines to evade detection.

In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested a couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, alongside another suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, 38, after a major raid on a residence in the Gonin Gora area on May 24.

During the operation, officers recovered 100 jumbo bags of skunk weighing a total of 1,246 kilograms from the property, marking one of the largest single seizures in the state in recent months.

On the same day, NDLEA patrol officers along the Abuja–Kaduna Highway at Jere intercepted a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, who was found in possession of 380 rounds of 7.62mm military-grade ammunition allegedly being transported to Katsina State.

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The suspect and the recovered ammunition were subsequently handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

In Niger State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, where they discovered 457 kilograms of skunk.

A suspect, Godwin Zakka, 46, was later arrested at his residence in Gbeganu, Minna, in connection with the seizure.

In a separate operation in Enugu State on May 28, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial vehicle along the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway heading towards Taraba State.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 22,000 tramadol pills, 100 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 grams of bromazepam. One suspect, identified as James Maigari Wisdom, was arrested in connection with the shipment.

The agency also confirmed that its commands across the country continued sensitisation campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, targeting schools, religious institutions, workplaces and communities.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the operatives involved in the Kaduna, Niger and Enugu operations as well as personnel of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation for their efforts.

He urged officers to sustain the momentum in dismantling drug trafficking networks while intensifying public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing drug abuse across Nigeria.

The NDLEA said the latest operations reflect its ongoing strategy combining enforcement, intelligence-led raids and community engagement in the fight against illicit drugs nationwide