NDLEA Smashes Six Drug Syndicates, Seizes Tons of Illicit Substances Ahead of Festive Season

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled at least six major drug trafficking syndicates in a nationwide offensive that led to the seizure of tons of illicit substances and the arrest of nine alleged kingpins. The operations, driven by intelligence across multiple states, exposed sophisticated concealment methods, including methamphetamine and cocaine hidden in pressure machine cylinders and automobile parts passing through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The series of raids and interceptions, conducted between 17 and 22 November 2025, also saw the arrest of two young women accused of producing and selling drug-laced brownies online, and the recovery of thousands of bottles of codeine syrup and opioid pills allegedly destined for criminal and insurgent networks.

Airport Interdictions: Drugs in Machine Cylinders and Auto Parts

NDLEA operatives at the MMIA Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a consignment of illicit drugs concealed in pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa. The shipment, which arrived at the airport’s import shed on 13 November 2025 on a Tag-Angola flight with airway bill number 118-12882973, was flagged and seized based on credible intelligence.

A follow-up sting operation was conducted on Tuesday, 18 November, at a logistics company in Onitsha, Anambra State, where two alleged members of the trafficking ring were arrested as they attempted to receive the consignment. The first suspect, 30-year-old electrical appliances dealer, Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, was apprehended when he appeared to claim the cargo. Shortly afterwards, a second suspect, Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, a 51-year-old returnee from South Africa, arrived and was equally arrested.

The seized consignment contained 5.40kg of methamphetamine, 10.70kg of “Loud” (a potent strain of cannabis), 16 grams of cocaine, 200 grams of phenacetin, 200 grams of methcathinone, and 100 grams of caffeine, all allegedly concealed within the machine cylinders.

In a separate operation at the Lagos airport on Thursday, 20 November, NDLEA officers intercepted a brake servo automobile part used to hide 48 pellets and a block of cocaine with a gross weight of 2.30kg. The drugs were packed among other auto parts and were destined for Gabon.

A freight agent, Ameh Solomon, who presented the shipment for export, was arrested at the point of interception. A follow-up operation at the ASPMDA Market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, led to the arrest of an auto parts dealer, Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface, believed to be linked to the drug export attempt.

Massive Cannabis, Opioids, and Codeine Hauls Across States

The NDLEA’s offensive extended far beyond the airports, with major seizures recorded on highways and in warehouses across several states.

In Kogi State, NDLEA operatives on Monday, 17 November, intercepted a trailer at Kabba loaded with 4,700kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis. Three suspects identified as Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba, and Daniel Danladi were arrested alongside the consignment. A follow-up operation on Friday, 21 November, in Jos, Plateau State, resulted in the arrest of the alleged owner of the trailer and the illicit cargo, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu, described as the kingpin behind the shipment.

In Cross River State, a couple, 55-year-old Onun Okoi Okpotum and his 52-year-old wife Itam Okoi Okpotum, were arrested on Wednesday, 19 November, at their warehouse located at 13 Park Road, Ugep, Yakur Local Government Area. NDLEA officers recovered 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4,706kg from the premises, marking one of the largest single cannabis seizures in the state.

Further south in Edo State, two young women, 19-year-old Praise Nwogu and 25-year-old Ebong Emem Oghosa, were arrested on Saturday, 22 November, in Benin City for allegedly producing and selling brownies laced with illicit drugs online. At the time of arrest, Nwogu was found with 12 plates and a cup of drug-laced brownies, while Oghosa was allegedly in possession of 76 grams of skunk, 1.5 grams of Colorado, and additional drug-laced brownies.

A separate raid in Ososo village, Akoko Edo LGA, on Tuesday, 18 November, led to the arrest of 35-year-old Shedrack Aminu, who was allegedly found with 59kg of skunk.

Arms, Codeine, and Opioids: Links to Wider Criminal Networks

The week-long operations also exposed the intersections between drug trafficking, arms movement, and insurgency financing.

Along the Enugu/Onitsha road in Enugu State, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 19 November, intercepted 24-year-old Chinoso Emmanuel Monday with 10.1kg of skunk, 105,600 pills of tramadol (250mg, 225mg, and 100mg), 700 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and 3,000 rounds of live ammunition. The recovery of ammunition alongside controlled substances raised fresh concerns about the link between drug supply and armed criminal activities.

In Kebbi State, NDLEA officers evacuated 13,155 bottles of codeine-based syrup from a warehouse in Dole-Kaina, Dandi LGA. Additionally, on Friday, 21 November, a 23-year-old suspect, Umar Adamu, was arrested with 12,548 opioid pills concealed in paracetamol containers. The consignment, according to preliminary findings, was allegedly heading towards a Boko Haram enclave in the Minok area of Borno State, underscoring the use of drugs in sustaining insurgent operations.

On the Abaji–Abuja expressway in the Federal Capital Territory, two suspects, 40-year-old Anthony Mercy and 39-year-old Sunday Augustine, were arrested on Monday, 17 November, with 430.5kg of cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol.

In Niger State, 47-year-old Samson Dafe was arrested at Dikko Junction, along Kaduna Road in Tafa LGA, on Tuesday, 18 November. He was allegedly transporting 85,100 opioid pills and 5,456 bottles of codeine syrup in a Sharon vehicle with registration number ABJ 114 BV. A raid on the premises of a suspect, Sani Mohammed, in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, Shiroro LGA, on Thursday, 20 November, yielded 437 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 471.8kg.

In Lagos State, NDLEA officers arrested Usman Ayoola Adegoke in connection with the seizure of 139 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 71kg at an apartment in Lekki. In a related operation also in Lekki on Tuesday, 18 November, a woman, Oluchi Celestine, was arrested with 2.6kg of Colorado, some of it allegedly concealed in flight boarding cards and some packaged in branded containers.

Acting on credible intelligence and with support from military personnel, NDLEA operatives also raided the notorious Peti illicit drug enclave on Lagos Island on Monday, 17 November. During the operation, they recovered 385kg of skunk, Loud, and Colorado, and arrested two suspects.
In another Lagos operation, 163,200 capsules of tramadol 225mg were seized at a motor park in the Maza Maza area.

NDLEA Intensifies WADA Campaign as Marwa Justifies Crackdown

Alongside its enforcement efforts, the NDLEA says it is sustaining its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign through advocacy and education across schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities nationwide.

Recent WADA activities include sensitisation lectures for students and staff of Baptist High School, Ilero, Oyo State; St. Michael Anglican Primary School, Afuye, Epe, Lagos; Government Day Senior and Junior Secondary School, Kurami, Katsina; Women Day Secondary School, Kontagora, Niger State; Government Day Secondary School, Takatuku, Sokoto; St. Paul’s College, Eke, Enugu; and Iwoye Area Community High School, Iwoye, Ogun State, among others.

The NDLEA leadership says this dual strategy of enforcement and education is central to its efforts to reduce both supply and demand for illicit drugs across the country.

Commending the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Kogi, Edo, Cross River, Enugu, Kebbi, Niger, Borno and FCT Commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged them and their colleagues nationwide to sustain the momentum of the ongoing operations.

Justifying the current heavy crackdown, Marwa said the approaching festive season is often exploited by criminal networks to scale up their activities. He warned that drug cartels could attempt to flood the market, especially during the busy holiday period, but insisted that the Agency remains determined to prevent such moves.

“The coming weeks present both an opportunity and a challenge. Drug cartels may attempt to increase their illegal activities, seeking to profit during the busy holiday period. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard,” he stated.

Marwa reiterated that the NDLEA will continue to target drug trafficking organisations, disrupt supply chains, arrest key actors, and strengthen public awareness as part of a “balanced approach” to drug control in Nigeria