The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide offensive against drug trafficking, arresting multiple suspects and seizing large quantities of illicit drugs during coordinated operations across Oyo, Kwara, Delta, Plateau and Kano states.
Among those arrested is a 70-year-old suspect, while officers also intercepted hundreds of thousands of opioid pills, cannabis, codeine syrup, cocaine, methamphetamine and other controlled substances in what the agency described as part of its sustained effort to dismantle drug distribution networks across Nigeria.
The operations, carried out through surveillance, highway interceptions and targeted raids, were disclosed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday.
70-year-old among suspects arrested in Oyo
One of the most notable arrests was made in Oyo State, where NDLEA operatives conducting surveillance along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway intercepted a Toyota Sienna suspected of transporting illegal pharmaceutical products.
The two occupants of the vehicle, Abdulfatai Oyelaran, 70, and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were taken into custody after officers searched the vehicle.
According to the agency, the search led to the recovery of 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection, both of which are commonly abused despite their legitimate medical uses.
The suspects are expected to face further investigation as authorities work to determine the intended destination of the consignments and identify other members of the alleged distribution network.
Truck carrying nearly 56kg of skunk intercepted in Kwara
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, during an operation around the Kam Wire area of Ilorin.
The agency said the pair were allegedly transporting 55.96 kilogrammes of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, in a truck.
Investigators believe the seizure forms part of efforts to disrupt the movement of illicit drugs through major transport routes connecting different parts of the country.
Massive pharmaceutical drug haul in Delta
Another significant operation was carried out in Delta State, where officers intercepted Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway.
A search reportedly uncovered a large cache of controlled drugs, including:
- 124,100 tramadol pills
- 786 bottles of codeine syrup
- 2,598 Rohypnol tablets
- 4,800 diazepam tablets
- 470 pentazocine ampoules
- 200 tramadol ampoules
The seizure represents one of the largest pharmaceutical drug recoveries recorded during the latest round of nationwide operations.
Cartridges and cash recovered from Delta suspect
In a separate operation within Delta, NDLEA officers arrested Emeka Tony, 50, on the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway.
According to the agency, officers recovered 1,244 cartridges and ₦8 million from the suspect.
Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the recovered ammunition is connected to any broader criminal investigation, but the suspect remains in custody as inquiries continue.
Nearly 240,000 tramadol capsules seized in Plateau
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla on the Riyom-Jos Road after intelligence suggested it was carrying illegal pharmaceutical products.
The agency said officers discovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a tramadol-based product, concealed in the vehicle.
The driver, Kasum Sherif, was arrested in connection with the seizure and is expected to assist investigators as they trace the supply chain behind the consignment.
Kano operations yield hundreds of thousands of pills
Kano State recorded some of the largest seizures during the latest nationwide operations.
Along the Zaria-Kano Road, NDLEA officers arrested six suspects and recovered 728,958 pills, including tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioid-based drugs.
The operation also led to the seizure of:
- 360 grammes of cocaine
- 99.8 grammes of methamphetamine
- 50 bottles of codeine syrup
- 2.7 kilogrammes of Loud, a synthetic form of cannabis
The agency described the operation as another major breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against organised drug trafficking.
Additional raid uncovers over 100kg of cannabis
A follow-up operation in Zawaciki Gida Dubu, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, produced another substantial seizure.
NDLEA officers arrested Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, after allegedly discovering 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8 kilogrammes.
The raid followed intelligence gathering by the agency and formed part of targeted operations aimed at dismantling local drug supply networks.
NDLEA intensifies nationwide enforcement
The latest operations underscore the NDLEA’s continued strategy of combining intelligence-led surveillance, highway checkpoints and targeted raids to intercept illegal drugs before they reach communities.
The agency said its officers remain committed to disrupting trafficking routes used to move narcotics and controlled pharmaceutical substances across Nigeria.
Authorities added that investigations are continuing in all the cases to identify additional suspects, trace the origin of the recovered consignments and dismantle the criminal networks allegedly involved in their distribution.
With thousands of kilograms of illicit substances intercepted and multiple suspects now in custody, the NDLEA says it will sustain pressure on traffickers through coordinated enforcement operations across the country.
