NDLEA intercepts ₦10bn cocaine, loud, opioids; arrests alleged drug kingpins, recovers military-grade ammunition
By Zagazola Makama
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs valued at over ₦10 billion and recovered 401 rounds of military-grade ammunition in a series of intelligence-led operations across Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina and Edo states.
The operations also led to the arrest of several suspected drug traffickers, including an alleged kingpin accused of attempting to export cocaine to the United Kingdom.
According to the NDLEA, operatives arrested Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, 55, a clothing trader at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls of cartons used to package food items destined for the UK.
The cocaine shipment was intercepted at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on July 22.
Investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed, and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim—as well as Kenneth Okakpu, who delivered the consignment for shipment.
Further investigation identified Onuigbo as the alleged leader of the trafficking syndicate. He was subsequently arrested on July 23 while allegedly attempting to send another cocaine consignment to the UK.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, 31, at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, following the seizure of 2.80kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight.
The agency also intercepted a shipment containing 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, estimated to be worth over ₦2.2 billion, during a joint cargo examination at the Lagos airport. The consignment had arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight following intelligence received by the agency.
In another export interception, NDLEA officers uncovered a consignment of tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap intended for shipment to the United Kingdom.
At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, operatives uncovered 2,388.5 kilograms of Canadian Loud, packaged in 4,777 sachets and concealed inside three imported vehicles in a container. The illicit consignment has an estimated street value of over ₦7.1 billion.
In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested Mustapha Sani, 30, during a patrol at Baure in Safana Local Government Area, where he was found with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 123 additional rounds concealed on him.
Similarly, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, officers arrested Abubakar Amadu, 30, at Jere after recovering 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs filled with palm oil.
The agency said both suspects had been handed over to the appropriate security authorities for further investigation into the source and intended destination of the ammunition.
In Edo State, raid operations at Ilushi Community in Esan South-East Local Government Area led to the seizure of 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds from a warehouse.
Operatives also arrested Ojore Onweze, 45, with 60kg of skunk, while George Agwumede, 30, was apprehended with 13kg of the same substance.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA said it sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities across the country, including institutions in Niger, Kano and Lagos states.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), as well as commands in MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna and Katsina, for the successful operations.
He urged personnel across the country to remain committed to the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction through sustained enforcement and public sensitisation.
