The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a notorious drug trafficking syndicate that sponsors Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj pilgrimage, using them as drug mules to smuggle cocaine. This follows the arrest of three major kingpins identified as Abubakar Muhammad, Abdulhakeem Muhammed Tijjani, and Muhammad Aji Shugaba in Kano on May 27 and 28, 2025.
The operation came in the wake of a prior arrest of two Saudi-bound pilgrims, Ibrahim Umar Mustapha and Muhammad Siraj Shifado, on May 26, 2025, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives subjected the duo to scanning, which revealed ingestion of illicit drugs. Upon further observation, both excreted 45 wraps of cocaine each, totaling 90 wraps and weighing 1.04kg. Further investigation led to the swift arrest of the cartel’s masterminds within 48 hours, effectively busting the network.
Cocaine Trafficking via Air Routes: Iran-Bound Businessman Nabbed
In another major breakthrough, NDLEA operatives at the Kano airport intercepted 60-year-old businessman Chinedu Leonard Okigbo on May 28, 2025, during the outward clearance for a Qatar Airways flight QR1432 en route to Iran. Okigbo’s body scan returned positive for illicit drug ingestion, and he was placed under excretion observation.
The businessman eventually excreted 65 wraps of cocaine, weighing a total of 1.41kg. This arrest underscores the alarming trend of drug trafficking through international air travel, with individuals using internal concealment methods to evade detection. The NDLEA has reiterated its commitment to combating such tactics through enhanced surveillance and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
Record Seizures at Onne Port: Over N9.3 Billion Worth of Opioids Intercepted
In what is described as one of the largest seizures this year, the NDLEA, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, conducted a coordinated joint operation at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex (PHPC), Onne, Rivers State. Between May 28 and May 30, 2025, seven watch-listed containers were examined.
The operation led to the seizure of 825,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup and trodol valued at over ₦5.77 billion, alongside 5.1 million pills of highly potent opioids, particularly tapentadol 225mg, worth ₦3.57 billion. The combined street value of the intercepted substances is a staggering ₦9.346 billion. NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded the collaboration and vigilance of the PHPC command for preventing the harmful drugs from flooding Nigerian communities.
Fake Dollar Syndicate, Cannabis and Opioid Dealers Also Caught
NDLEA operatives along the Kano-Maiduguri Road on May 30, 2025, intercepted two suspects, Abubakar Hussein (42) and Sahabi Adamu (53), with $900,000 in cash suspected to be counterfeit. The duo and the fake currency are being transferred to the appropriate agency for in-depth investigation and prosecution.
Simultaneously, in Adamawa State, officers recovered 390 compressed blocks of cannabis (skunk strain) weighing 275.3kg from an abandoned Toyota Sienna van along the Ngurore-Yola Road on May 27, 2025. In Ilorin, Kwara State, a notorious female drug dealer, Alhaja Mutiat Abdul-Fatai, was arrested at the Oja Oba area on May 31, 2025. A variety of illicit opioids, including tramadol, flunitrazepam, and codeine syrup, were seized from her residence, further demonstrating NDLEA’s expanded operations across regions.
NDLEA Expands WADA Advocacy as Marwa Commends Nationwide Efforts
As enforcement operations continue, the NDLEA has also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy initiatives across the country. Throughout the past week, sensitization lectures were delivered at several schools including Government Day Senior Secondary School in Kwasarawa, Katsina; Corpus Christi College, Achi, Enugu; Epignosis Standard College, Onitsha, Anambra; Government Girls Secondary School, Utai, Wudil LGA, Kano; and Government Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of the agency’s personnel in MAKIA, PHPC, Kano, Kwara, and Adamawa Commands for their decisive actions. He emphasized the agency’s balanced approach in reducing both the supply and demand of drugs across Nigeria. Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to root out drug trafficking syndicates, protect the nation’s youths, and safeguard public health and safety.
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