NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine in Religious Books Bound for Saudi, Arrests Bandits’ Drug Supplier and Raids Multiple Drug Dens Across Nigeria

NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine in Religious Books Bound for Saudi, Arrests Bandits’ Drug Supplier and Raids Multiple Drug Dens Across Nigeria

In a series of coordinated operations across the country, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple drug consignments, arrested suspects including a bandits’ drug supplier, and destroyed cannabis farms as part of its ongoing war against narcotics trafficking.

A major breakthrough was recorded at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, where NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) uncovered 20 parcels of cocaine weighing 500 grams. The drugs were ingeniously concealed within the pages of religious books destined for Saudi Arabia. In a separate operation at another courier outlet the same day, officers intercepted five parcels of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis weighing 2.8kg, hidden in a carton arriving from the United States.

In Kano, NDLEA agents arrested a 22-year-old suspect, Muhammad Mohammed, en route to Katsina with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection strapped to his thighs and private parts. The agency believes he was a key supplier of illicit drugs to bandits. On the same day, another suspect, Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was apprehended with 68 blocks of cannabis (30kg) at Rimin Kebe, Nasarawa.

A significant bust in Bayelsa State led to the seizure of over 557kg of cannabis, 5.6kg of methamphetamine, and 29.8g of heroin at a residence along Major General Isaiah Allison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa. Four suspects — Sarimiye Suwa Kurtis (46), Roland Prosper (34), Sarimiye Tare Paul (45), and Fidelis Ugbesla (46) — were arrested during the Wednesday, 16th April operation.

In Lagos, 1,100kg of cannabis was recovered from a delivery van, with the driver, Ismail Abdullahi, arrested in Surulere on Thursday, 17th April. Meanwhile, in Kaduna, operatives raided the Zaria hideout of one Ike Ani (30), recovering 31,950 pills of tramadol and diazepam.

Kebbi State operatives intercepted 97kg of skunk concealed in sacks of charcoal in a vehicle from Malabil, Benin Republic. The operation, conducted on Friday, 18th April, led to the arrest of three suspects: Abubakar Ibrahim (50), Mustapha Aliyu (32), and Bashar Lawali (28).

Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives arrested Okafor Marcel (48) with 11.5kg of cannabis in Abatete, Anambra, and nabbed Mercy Ajala (27) in Osogbo, Osun State, with 43 litres of "skushi" — a dangerous mixture of black currant, cannabis, and opioids — found in her residence.

In Edo State, two cannabis farms covering 1.49 hectares in Egbeta forest, Ovia North East LGA, were raided. The operation led to the destruction of 3,717.86kg of the psychoactive plant and the recovery of 136.5kg of processed cannabis.

At the Tin Can Seaport in Lagos, long-sought suspect Basorun Usman Kayode (40) was finally apprehended in connection with a 107kg cannabis shipment from Canada seized in 2023. Another suspect, Dauda Yakubu, a drug distributor within the seaport community, was also arrested on Monday, 14th April.

The NDLEA also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign, with sensitisation lectures held in schools, markets, and transport hubs across Lagos, Ekiti, Niger, Osun, Cross River, and Anambra States.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the various state commands and DOGI for their dedication and success in the week’s operations. He praised their efforts in maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction, assuring continued commitment to a drug-free Nigeria.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja