NDLEA Intercepts N10bn Drug Consignments, Arrests Suspected Traffickers Across Four States

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered one of its biggest anti-narcotics operations in recent months, intercepting illicit drug consignments worth more than N10 billion, arresting suspected traffickers and recovering military-grade ammunition allegedly linked to illegal activities.

The coordinated operations, carried out across Lagos, Katsina, Kaduna and Edo states, led to the seizure of cocaine bound for the United Kingdom, Canadian Loud smuggled through seaports, a large consignment of opioids imported from India, and more than 400 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed for transportation.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the agency also arrested individuals suspected to be involved in major drug trafficking networks during the operations.

Among those arrested was 55-year-old businessman Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a clothing trader at Lagos Island’s Balogun Market, who was allegedly identified as the mastermind behind an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside cartons used for packaging food items destined for the United Kingdom.

According to the agency, NDLEA operatives intercepted the cocaine shipment at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on July 22. Further investigations reportedly led to Onuigbo’s arrest the following day while he was preparing another shipment.

The agency said three cargo agents — Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim — were initially arrested after processing the consignment. Their interrogation allegedly led investigators to another suspect, Kenneth Okakpu, before Onuigbo was identified as the suspected coordinator of the operation.

Billion-naira drug seizures at Lagos ports, airport

In another operation, NDLEA officers arrested 31-year-old Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, following the interception of a 2.80-kilogram consignment of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis allegedly imported from the United States.

The agency also recorded a major pharmaceutical drug seizure after recovering 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at more than N2.2 billion, from a cargo shipment that arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight.

The seizure followed intelligence-led operations and a joint examination of the shipment at the Lagos airport on July 24.

Shortly before the Tapentadol interception, NDLEA operatives also foiled an attempt to smuggle tramadol to the United Kingdom after discovering the drugs concealed inside containers of black soap at a Lagos courier company.

At the Apapa Seaport, officers uncovered a container carrying three vehicles allegedly used to conceal 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5 kilograms. The consignment was estimated to have a street value exceeding N7.1 billion.

Ammunition recovered in Katsina, Kaduna

Beyond drug enforcement, the agency said its operations also uncovered military-grade ammunition in Katsina and Kaduna states.

In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested 30-year-old Mustapha Sani at Baure in Safana Local Government Area after allegedly discovering 323 rounds of ammunition in his possession. The recovered items included 200 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.

Similarly, on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway near Jere, officers arrested Abubakar Amadu, also aged 30, during a stop-and-search operation. He was allegedly found with 73 rounds of 7.62mm RLA ammunition concealed inside kegs filled with red palm oil.

The NDLEA said both suspects and the recovered ammunition had been handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Cannabis warehouse raided in Edo

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, who was allegedly found with 60 kilograms of skunk, while George Agwumede, 30, was arrested with an additional 13 kilograms of the illicit substance.

The NDLEA said the seizures and arrests demonstrate the agency’s continued efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent the circulation of illicit substances across Nigeria and international routes.