NDLEA Busts 6 Major Drug Syndicates, Arrests 9 Kingpins, Seizes Tons of Narcotics

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has ramped up its nationwide efforts to combat drug trafficking syndicates, successfully dismantling at least six major drug cartels and arresting nine key figures in a series of coordinated, intelligence-driven operations across the country.

The crackdown, which comes just ahead of the festive season, has resulted in the seizure of tons of illicit substances hidden in various items, including machine cylinders, auto parts, food items, and even flight boarding passes.

In one operation on Tuesday, November 18, NDLEA operatives arrested two members of a drug trafficking organization in Onitsha, Anambra State, as they attempted to take delivery of packages concealed inside pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa. The hidden items included 5.40 kg of methamphetamine, 10.70 kg of Loud (a potent cannabis strain), 16 g of cocaine, and various other substances such as phenacetin, methcathinone, and caffeine.

The suspects arrested—Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, a 30-year-old electrical appliances dealer, and Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, a 51-year-old returnee from South Africa—were apprehended during a sting operation based on intelligence gathered at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. The shipment had arrived on November 13 aboard a Tag-Angola flight and was immediately flagged for inspection.

At the Lagos airport, another operation on Thursday, November 20, led to the interception of a brake servo auto part used to conceal 48 pellets and a block of cocaine weighing 2.30 kg, destined for Gabon. A freight agent, Ameh Solomon, was arrested, and a subsequent operation at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos resulted in the arrest of auto parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface.

In Kogi State, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer loaded with 4,700 kg of skunk in Kabba on November 17, leading to the arrest of three suspects: Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba, and Daniel Danladi. A follow-up operation in Jos on November 21 resulted in the arrest of the alleged kingpin, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu.

In Cross River State, a significant bust led to the arrest of a couple—Onun Okoi Okpotum (55) and Itam Okoi Okpotum (52)—in Ugep, Yakurr LGA. Operatives recovered 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4,706 kg from their warehouse.

In Edo State, two young women, Praise Nwogu (19) and Ebong Emem Oghosa (25), were arrested in Benin City for producing and selling drug-laced brownies online. They were found with trays of the brownies, as well as quantities of skunk and Colorado. Another suspect, Shedrack Aminu (35), was arrested in Ososo village with 59 kg of skunk.

Along the Enugu–Onitsha Road, a patrol team intercepted Chinoso Emmanuel Monday (24) with 10.1 kg of skunk, over 105,600 tramadol pills, 700 ampoules of pentazocine, and 3,000 rounds of live ammunition.

In Kebbi State, operatives confiscated 13,155 bottles of codeine syrup from a warehouse in Dole-Kaina, Dandi LGA. A suspect, Umar Adamu (23), was arrested with 12,548 opioid pills concealed in paracetamol containers, destined for a Boko Haram enclave in Borno State.

Additionally, two suspects—Anthony Mercy (40) and Sunday Augustine (39)—were caught along the Abaji–Abuja expressway with 430.5 kg of cannabis. In Niger State, Samson Dafe (47) was arrested with 85,100 opioid pills and 5,456 bottles of codeine syrup. Another raid in Shiroro LGA uncovered 471.8 kg of compressed skunk linked to suspect Sani Mohammed.

In Lagos, operatives arrested Usman Ayoola Adegoke in connection with 71 kg of Candian Loud, and a woman, Oluchi Celestine, was caught with 2.6 kg of Colorado concealed in branded containers and flight boarding cards. A joint operation with the military at the notorious Peti drug enclave on Lagos Island recovered 385 kg of various illicit substances and resulted in multiple arrests. Another operation at the Maza Maza motor park yielded 163,200 tramadol capsules.

Beyond enforcement, NDLEA commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns across schools, religious institutions, and communities in states including Oyo, Lagos, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Enugu, and Ogun.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, praised the operatives across participating commands for their strategic successes. He emphasized the agency’s heightened vigilance ahead of the festive period, a time often exploited by drug cartels.

“The coming weeks present both an opportunity and a challenge,” Marwa stated. “Drug cartels may attempt to escalate their illegal activities during the busy holiday period. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard.”