NDLEA Dismantles Major Drug Syndicates, Arrests Six Kingpins and Seizes Tons of Illicit Drugs Across Nigeria

NDLEA Dismantles Major Drug Syndicates, Arrests Six Kingpins and Seizes Tons of Illicit Drugs Across Nigeria

In a major breakthrough against cross-border drug trafficking, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled two notorious drug syndicates, seizing vast quantities of cocaine, opioids, and other narcotics valued in the billions of naira. Six kingpins, including a software engineer and several foreign nationals, were apprehended in various locations across the country, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Taraba.

Following months of intelligence gathering and careful surveillance, NDLEA identified a network of traffickers based in Adamawa, Anambra, and Lagos states, as well as operatives from Cameroon. This network is suspected of supplying drugs to terror groups operating in Nigeria and Cameroon. 

The syndicate leaders arrested include Ibrahim Bawuro, Najib Ibrahim, Ibrahim Umar, Nelson Udechukwu Anayo, Ezeh Amaechi Martin, and Adejumo Elijah Ishola. Investigations revealed that psychoactive substances, including tramadol, were sourced from a well-known dealer in Onitsha, Nelson Udechukwu Anayo, then hidden in vehicles by Ezeh Amaechi Martin before being transported across state lines. NDLEA operatives caught up with Ibrahim Bawuro and Najib Ibrahim on October 8 in Taraba with a Toyota Avensis packed with 276,500 tramadol pills after a high-speed chase.

Meanwhile, Adejumo Elijah Ishola was apprehended at the Seme border on November 5, carrying 3.3 kilograms of cocaine and 600 grams of synthetic cannabis smuggled from Ghana.

Other high-profile interceptions included a container holding 31.75 million pills of Voltron, a powerful opioid, which was seized at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on November 6. The drugs were falsely labeled as diclofenac sodium and were imported from India. On the same day, a software engineer, Olu Marshal, was detained at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after attempting to collect a consignment containing 700 grams of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis. A search of his home in Lekki revealed additional drug paraphernalia.

In another operation, NDLEA foiled an attempt by Orji Ogbonna Nnaorji to export 32.5 kilograms of codeine syrup and 5.7 kilograms of cannabis hidden in tiger nuts to the United Kingdom through Lagos airport. He was subsequently apprehended at his warehouse in Ajao Estate, Lagos.

Across multiple states, significant drug seizures and arrests were made. In Kwara, 162,800 pills of opioids were confiscated from various suspects, while in Abuja, a truck carrying 755.5 kilograms of cannabis was intercepted on November 7. Similarly, large cannabis hauls were made in Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, and Ondo states, totaling several thousand kilograms of cannabis sativa.

In addition to these arrests and seizures, NDLEA continued its "War Against Drug Abuse" (WADA) campaign with educational lectures and outreach programs in schools, communities, workplaces, and traditional palaces nationwide.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of NDLEA teams for their commitment to eradicating drug trafficking. He also commended the agency's engagement with communities to raise awareness against drug abuse.

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy  

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja  

Sunday, November 10, 2024