Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 41-year-old ex-convict, Ndubuisi Udatu, also known as Richard, after discovering 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in two large music speakers. Udatu, who recently returned to Nigeria after serving a jail term in Malaysia for drug trafficking, was apprehended at a checkpoint in Namtari along Ngurore-Yola Road, Adamawa State, on Monday, April 7, 2025.
The suspect was traveling in a commercial bus when NDLEA operatives flagged down the vehicle for routine inspection. Inside his luggage were two newly purchased music speakers concealing four tightly wrapped parcels of methamphetamine. A cash sum of N22,300 was also recovered from him. Udatu later confessed during interrogation that he came back to Nigeria specifically to resume his illicit drug trade, targeting distribution in Yola, Mubi, and neighboring Cameroon.
His arrest marks a significant blow to transnational drug networks exploiting returnees with criminal histories to push illicit substances into local and border communities.
Trans-Border Trafficker Caught With 8,740 Ampoules of Opioid Injections
In a separate operation carried out through a joint border patrol with Customs personnel, NDLEA officers apprehended a 35-year-old trans-border trafficker, Odoh Peter Ikechukwu, at the Nigeria-Cameroon border in Mfum, Cross River State. He was found with a massive cache of injectable opioids weighing 395kg.
The intercepted substances included 1,080 ampoules of fentanyl injection, 2,160 ampoules of morphine sulphate, 3,010 ampoules of phenobarbital sulphate, 2,160 ampoules of pethidine injection, and 330 ampoules of midazolam injection. These drugs are highly regulated due to their potential for abuse and their lethal consequences when misused.
NDLEA officials believe the intercepted opioids were destined for black markets across West Africa, including medical abuse networks in Nigeria and Cameroon. The arrest highlights growing concerns over synthetic opioid smuggling across porous African borders.
NDLEA Expands Seizures in Kano, FCT and Niger
Further demonstrating the Agency’s intensified operations, NDLEA operatives in Kano on Friday, April 11, arrested a 27-year-old suspect, Aliyu Ibrahim, with 20 ATM cards and 25,600 pills of tramadol in the Bachirawa area. The tramadol, split between 225mg and 250mg tablets, was believed to be intended for distribution across Kano metropolis.
In a follow-up operation in Abuja, NDLEA operatives nabbed 48-year-old Gambo Lawan at Wazobia Motor Park in Gwagwalada following a Monday, April 7 seizure of 8,960 tramadol pills during a highway checkpoint inspection. Investigations linked the earlier seizure directly to Lawan, leading to his prompt arrest.
Meanwhile, in Niger State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Lexus vehicle with license plate KTU 54 CU along the Mokwa-Jebba road. Inside the vehicle’s boot, agents uncovered 11 jumbo bags containing 124 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. The driver, 58-year-old Ademiluyi Adedapo Collins, is now in custody, facing charges of trafficking and illegal possession.
WADA Advocacy Campaigns Reach Schools, Markets and Communities
While cracking down on drug cartels, the NDLEA has continued to strengthen its public enlightenment efforts through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign. In the past week, WADA activities extended to educational institutions, religious centers, and traditional leadership domains across Nigeria.
Some key outreach efforts included sensitization lectures at New Era Secondary School in Nteje, Anambra; Promise Land College in Lagos; Cherryfield College in Jikwoyi, FCT; Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State; and Nurul Faruq Islamic Academy in Gombi, Adamawa. In Kwara State, NDLEA officials visited the Oloro of Oro Kingdom, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye Olufayo II, to gain royal support in community advocacy.
These initiatives are aimed at instilling anti-drug values among young Nigerians while rallying community leaders to become active participants in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
NDLEA Chairman Commends Officers, Urges Sustained Pressure on Cartels
In his reaction to the successful operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the Commands in Adamawa, Cross River, Kano, FCT, and Niger states for their dedication and effectiveness. He emphasized that the fight against drug abuse and trafficking must be approached with equal intensity on both enforcement and prevention fronts.
Marwa charged all NDLEA personnel across the federation to remain vigilant, proactive, and unrelenting in their pursuit of a drug-free Nigeria. He reiterated that every arrest, seizure, and sensitization campaign contributes significantly to weakening the influence of drug cartels and protecting future generations.
“Our collective resilience is the key to breaking the hold of drug syndicates,” Marwa stated. “We must continue to raise the bar in both our offensive and advocacy actions.”
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