The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking with a series of successful operations across the country, including the arrest of a long-wanted drug kingpin and multiple drug seizures.
One of the key breakthroughs came with the arrest of 60-year-old Okpara Paul Chigozie, a major drug cartel leader who had been on the agency’s wanted list since 2019. NDLEA operatives apprehended him at his hideout on Michael Ojo Street in Isheri, Ojo area of Lagos on Sunday, July 13, following the interception of his drug-laden vehicle earlier that morning.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Chigozie’s courier, 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, was caught transporting illicit substances in a white Toyota Sienna en route to Onitsha, Anambra State.
The van was stopped around 5:45 a.m. at Ilasamaja along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, where sniffer dogs uncovered 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine hidden in concealed compartments.
A follow-up raid at Chigozie’s residence led to the recovery of an additional 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine.
In another operation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA officers working with Aviation Security intercepted a passenger, Omoregie Uyiosa, bound for Italy via Turkish Airlines on Wednesday, July 16. He was found in possession of 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol, which he admitted he planned to sell abroad.
Similarly, on July 17, officials at the airport’s export shed seized 17 parcels of cannabis (skunk), weighing 1.7kg, hidden in packs of Golden Morn cereal en route to Pakistan.
The suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna, who submitted the package for shipment, was arrested.
Further operations within Lagos led agents to Sarah Sam Hotels on Ogudu Road in Kosofe, suspected of distributing “party drugs.” Surveillance linked the establishment to a suspect, Obayemi Oyetade.
A search of his hotel room uncovered 1.3kg of cannabis-infused chocolate, 900 grams of cannabis-laced gummies, and 22.9 grams of skunk. Authorities also seized three vehicles connected to the case.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi, and Emmanuel Madu — during a raid in the Narayi High Cost area of Chikun LGA.
A total of 742.866 kilograms of skunk and synthetic cannabis (Colorado) were recovered.
In Kano, officers intercepted Lawan Rabiu along the Danbatta-Kazaure road with 36,000 pills of tramadol on Wednesday, July 16.
Two days later in Gombe State, 25,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 were seized from Aliyu Abubakar at Gombe roundabout.
The same day, Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were arrested in Kwadom, Yemaltu Deba LGA, with 49 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 29kg.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers patrolling Baga Road in Maiduguri, Borno State, on July 19 intercepted 74,360 pills of opioids from a Mercedes-Benz C180. A 44-year-old suspect, Audu Modu, was arrested in connection with the drugs.
In Bayelsa State, a 63-year-old woman, Akuna Nelson, was arrested on July 17 in the Osiri area of Yenagoa, where 163 litres of a locally brewed psychoactive drink known as “skuchies” were confiscated.
Four additional suspects — Ikechukwu Abugu, 42; Sunday Ani, 18; Chukwu Christian, 46; and Emmanuel Olisakwe, 55 — were detained along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State after 2kg of methamphetamine was found in their vehicle, which was traveling from Onitsha to Minna.
In Abia State, a raid on a notorious drug dealer’s base at 4 Niger Street, Ugwa Road, Aba, led to the arrest of 39-year-old Nduka Obi. Officers recovered quantities of tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and N736,000 in cash.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to dismantling drug syndicates and urged the public to report any suspicious drug-related activity.