NDLEA Intercepts N3.4bn Worth of Loud, Opioids, Arrests Fake Police Officer, Drug Dealer

 NDLEA Intercepts N3.4bn Worth of Loud, Opioids, Arrests Fake Police Officer, Drug Dealer

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, as well as about 6,000kg of cannabis, with a combined estimated street value exceeding N3.4 billion in operations across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory.

The agency also arrested a suspected drug trafficker who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade security checks while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect, 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe, was arrested on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State.

Ekpe was allegedly found with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in a silver Toyota Sienna bus.

NDLEA said investigations revealed that the suspect had been posing as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card to evade scrutiny at checkpoints.

A 39-year-old accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.

N1.8bn Canadian Loud seized at Lagos port

In one of the major operations, NDLEA operatives at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion.

The consignment, which arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12 in a 40-foot container, was placed under surveillance following intelligence received by the agency.

A joint physical examination conducted on Wednesday, September 16, by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies uncovered the drugs concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded in two Toyota Sienna vehicles within the container.

Mechanic allegedly used workshop as drug storage facility

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop along Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.

The agency said Ossai allegedly used the workshop as a cover for storing illicit drugs.

Recovered from the premises were 48kg of Canadian Loud, 152 grams of methamphetamine and a metal box allegedly used for storing the substances.

NDLEA arrests three youths with AK-47 rifles in Niger

In Niger State, three young men were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area.

The suspects, Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, were arrested on Tuesday, September 15.

According to the NDLEA, two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition were concealed in a black travel bag recovered from the suspects.

Over 1.1m opioid tablets seized

Also on the Abaji-Abuja highway, NDLEA officers on Friday, September 18, arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25.

The suspects were allegedly transporting more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, alongside codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.

The drugs were concealed in eight sacks and were reportedly being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.

Other arrests, seizures across states

In Lagos, Onyeka Ofor was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, on Friday with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.

The agency also intercepted seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg at a logistics company, where a suspect identified as Luke Ugokwe was taken into custody.

In another operation in Lagos, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu was arrested at Apongbo on Thursday, September 17, with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.

In Gombe State, NDLEA operatives recovered 154,480 capsules of tramadol from two suspects, Sabi'u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested at the Barunde area and Gombe Main Market respectively on Friday.

Similarly, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State on Friday with 43.85kg of skunk.

In Ondo State, four suspects — Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday — were arrested during the raid and destruction of a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu forest.

NDLEA said approximately 5,000kg of skunk was destroyed at the farm, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered for use in prosecuting the suspects.

NDLEA intensifies anti-drug sensitisation

Beyond interdiction and arrests, the agency said its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The sensitisation activities included engagements with students and staff of St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos State; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.

The Delta Ports Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State.

Commending officers and men of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised their professionalism and intelligence-led operations.

Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain what he described as a balanced approach to the agency's drug control efforts.