The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 942 explosives and seized narcotics worth over N3.4 billion across multiple Nigerian states, dealing a decisive blow to the country’s drug trafficking networks and averting a potential security crisis.
Director of Media and Advocacy for the agency, Mr. Femi Babafemi, revealed in a statement on Sunday that the explosives, en route to Zamfara, were recovered from a commercial vehicle along the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway on Saturday, May 3.
The illicit cargo, hidden in a sack, was traced to a vehicle traveling from Nasarawa State. The suspect, 30-year-old Nura Sani Muhammad, also known as Nura Hariji, was taken into custody.
“Following directives from the Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the suspect and recovered items have been transferred to appropriate security agencies for further investigation,” Babafemi said.
The NDLEA’s intensified offensive didn’t stop there. On Tuesday, April 29, a massive container loaded with two million pills of tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup was intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne during a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security units. The street value of the cache alone runs into billions.
“This container had been placed on our watchlist, and the successful interception was the result of inter-agency synergy.
“Three suspects have been arrested in connection with this shipment, including the receiver, Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson,” Babafemi disclosed.
Meanwhile in Lagos, another 1.5 million pills of opioids were recovered in Ojo from one Olarenwaju Wahab.
The source of the consignment was traced to a residence in Victoria Garden City, Lekki, belonging to a suspect, Obinna Kenneth, who remains at large.
The NDLEA also made a breakthrough at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, where 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, were hidden in food containers and shipped aboard a British Airways flight from Canada.
The dragnet also caught businessman Bobby Morris Osas at Lagos airport as he attempted to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Italy. A search of his luggage led to the discovery of 8,130 tramadol pills of varying strengths.
On April 28, NDLEA’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a parcel containing 104 grams of tramadol and skunk disguised in body cream bottles and bound for Iraq through a Lagos courier company.
Other seizures included; Kano: Five-member syndicate led by Aminu Musa (alias Kadagi) caught with 50 blocks of skunk (21.6kg). Edo: White Toyota bus intercepted in Uromi with 314,020 pills of opioids, 638 bottles of codeine, and 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection. Anambra: Mazda bus seized at Agu-Awka junction containing 50,400 tramadol capsules and other drugs; suspect Chinedu Eneh arrested.
Niger: Mitsubishi Canter truck stopped on Kontagora-Mokwa road with 5,500 tramadol capsules and 2,300 ampoules of pentazocine.
Capping off the week’s major breakthroughs, the agency apprehended 52-year-old Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku, Managing Director of Ovidaq International Ltd and a long-wanted drug kingpin. His arrest followed a 10-month investigation into the importation of 2.6 million tramadol pills intercepted at Apapa Port in July 2024.
“A follow-up search of his Lekki residence led to the recovery of 51 wraps of Canadian Loud cannabis,” Babafemi confirmed.
The agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign also gained momentum, with sensitisation lectures delivered at Al-istigama University, Kano, and Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina State.
Commending his officers nationwide, Brig. Gen. Marwa praised the agency’s balanced focus on supply reduction and public education.
“Our success across these states demonstrates the NDLEA’s commitment to dismantling drug networks and preventing threats to national security,” Marwa said.
