NDLEA Seizes N3.4bn Worth of Opioids, Arrests Drug Kingpin and Suspects Across Nigeria

NDLEA Seizes N3.4bn Worth of Opioids, Arrests Drug Kingpin and Suspects Across Nigeria

Lagos – May 4, 2025

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a major breakthrough in its war against drug trafficking, intercepting over N3.4 billion worth of opioids and making several high-profile arrests across Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Anambra, Edo, Niger, Kaduna, and other states.

In a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, April 29, uncovered a container at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, loaded with over two million pills of Tramadol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup. The container had been under watch for months before its contents were revealed during a scheduled examination.

That same day, in Lagos, NDLEA operatives seized 1.5 million pills of a controlled opioid from one Olarenwaju Wahab at Alaba-Rago, Ojo. Investigations traced the source of the consignment to Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki, the residence of one Obinna Kenneth, who is currently on the run.

Further tightening its grip on the drug trade, NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, intercepted 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 20kg, concealed in tins of chocolate, milo, and beans. The illicit cargo arrived aboard a British Airways flight from Canada. Three suspects, including the receiver, Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, were arrested between April 30 and May 3.

Also on May 2, a suspect identified as Bobby Morris Osas was arrested while attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Italy. A search of his luggage uncovered 8,130 pills of Tramadol of varying strengths.

In another incident, NDLEA thwarted an attempt to ship 104 grams of tramadol and skunk concealed in body cream bottles to Iraq via a Lagos courier company on April 28.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna, operatives intercepted a commercial vehicle en route to Zamfara State and discovered 942 explosives hidden in a sack. A 30-year-old suspect, Nura Sani Muhammad, also known as Nura Hariji, was arrested and handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

On April 30 in Kano, five members of a drug syndicate, led by one Aminu Musa (a.k.a. Kadagi), were arrested at Dangoro Market with 50 blocks of skunk weighing 21.6kg.

Other significant arrests and seizures include:

• Edo State (May 1): NDLEA intercepted a white Toyota bus in Uromi, loaded with 314,020 pills of various opioids, 638 bottles of codeine syrup, and 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection. A suspect, Dare Adeyemo, was taken into custody.

• Anambra State (April 30): At Agu-Awka junction, a commercial bus was stopped and searched, leading to the recovery of 50,400 capsules of tramadol, 500 tablets of co-codamol, and 300 ampoules of pentazocine. A suspect, Chinedu Eneh, was arrested.

• Niger State (May 3): Along Kontagora-Mokwa road, a Mitsubishi truck was intercepted, leading to the discovery of 5,500 tramadol capsules and 2,300 ampoules of pentazocine. The driver, Yusuf Abubakar, 30, was arrested.

After 10 months of intensive tracking, the agency finally apprehended a notorious drug kingpin, Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku, Managing Director of Ovidaq International Ltd. He was arrested on April 26 in connection with the importation of 2.6 million tramadol pills seized at Apapa port in July 2024. A follow-up search at his Lekki residence yielded 51 wraps of Canadian Loud weighing 34 grams.

In addition to its enforcement efforts, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, reaching schools such as Al-Istigama University, Kano and Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina with sensitization lectures.

NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the dedication of officers across all commands, particularly those involved in the week’s operations. He reiterated the agency’s resolve to sustain a balanced approach between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.

— Report compiled by NDLEA Media & Advocacy Unit
For inquiries: Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.