14th August, 2026 | News

NDLEA Seizes Over 2.3 Tonnes of Illicit Drugs in Nationwide Crackdown

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled several drug trafficking networks operating across eight states, recovering more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs in a series of nationwide operations.

The seizures included synthetic cannabis, commonly known as Colorado or Colos, tramadol, pregabalin, cannabis and other controlled substances. The operations also led to the arrest of several suspects, including a real estate agent, a tour agent and a 70-year-old woman.

According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, operatives intercepted two consignments of Colorado allegedly shipped from the United Kingdom at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

In one operation, 27 parcels of the substance weighing 32.2 kilogrammes were recovered from a large piece of luggage. A real estate agent, Abideen Salami, was subsequently arrested while allegedly attempting to collect the consignment.

A follow-up investigation into another UK-linked shipment resulted in the arrest of 44-year-old Nurudeen Kadiri, who was allegedly designated to receive another 12.25-kilogramme consignment of Colorado.

The agency also uncovered attempts to transport illicit drugs through music equipment. At Maza Maza motor park in Lagos, operatives recovered Colorado concealed inside a music speaker allegedly destined for onward transportation to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia.

A tour agent, Ifeanyi Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation.

At Iddo motor park, another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on September 11 while allegedly attempting to dispatch 2.1 kilogrammes of Colorado to Kano.

Major Drug Seizures Across States

In Kano State, NDLEA operatives arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu at Sabon Gari with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425 kilogrammes.

Another operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road led to the seizure of 1,700 diazepam tablets allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested.

In Plateau State, operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor at Katako Market, Jos, with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.

Operations in Delta State also resulted in the recovery of pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam and MDMA, among other controlled substances. Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested.

The NDLEA simultaneously intensified its crackdown on cannabis cultivation and distribution.

In Edo State, operatives destroyed 4,832.56 kilogrammes of cannabis from farms across several forests in Ovia South-West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas. A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested.

In Ondo State, 186 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered from a Toyota Avalon during a raid on a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, Akure. The drugs were allegedly being prepared for transportation to Jos. A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested.

In Kaduna State, operatives arrested Hannah Michael at Gonin Gora with 369.6 kilogrammes of cannabis, while another operation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, resulted in the seizure of 876 kilogrammes of cannabis packed in 110 bags.

Four suspects, including 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, were arrested in connection with the Bayelsa seizure.

The NDLEA said the operations covered airport cargo facilities, motor parks, residential areas, road corridors, markets and cannabis farms.

Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

Commending personnel involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), urged officers to sustain efforts to disrupt the supply chains used by drug trafficking networks across airports, seaports, land borders and the hinterland.