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The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa on Sunday, confirmed the arrest of 21 suspects in coordinated operations across 11 states.
The states include Lagos, FCT, Benue, Edo, Borno, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Kano, and Osun states.
The operation included foiled international smuggling attempts and local distribution networks uncovered by NDLEA operatives.
A total of N228,200 and 71 vehicle side mirrors were used to conceal various illicit substances recovered between July 19 and August 2, 2025.
Seized drugs include cocaine, tramadol, Canadian Loud, Colorado, skunk, skuchies, phenacetine, codeine, and methamphetamine.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, indicated that a total of 249,986 tramadol pills were recovered during the nationwide clampdown.
Investigations revealed that the drugs were smuggled using non-conventional methods, including concealment in vehicle side mirrors, lipsticks, footwear, and dispatch bags, often routed through airports and expressways to evade detection.
The earliest operation, dated July 10, involved a consignment containing 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine concealed in lipsticks en route to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea via the Lagos airport.
Subsequently, on August 1, NDLEA operatives arrested one Nwafor Roseann Nneka at her shop in Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, in connection with the shipment.
She admitted to purchasing the lipsticks, while her husband, Remigus Nwafor, now on the run, handled the concealment.
On July 19, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, intercepted “57,420 tramadol pills and 57 cocaine pellets (1.60kg) in a consignment headed to Libreville, Gabon, via Air Côte d’Ivoire”.
Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, a cargo agent, was arrested.
A follow-up operation on July 20 led to the arrest of Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah, in whose home NDLEA recovered 11 additional cocaine parcels (1kg) from four vehicle side mirrors on July 21, bringing the total to 68 parcels weighing 2.6kg.
On July 28, in Osun State, operatives arrested Kabiru Ayinde (40) and Roqeeb Adekanmbi (25) in Ile-Ogbo, Iwo town, with “90kg of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus (SMK 755 YF) and N228,200 cash” recovered.
On July 30, in the Federal Capital Territory three dispatch riders—Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28)—were arrested during intelligence-led stop-and-search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa with 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud.
Operatives in Benue state arrested Hussein Yusuf (37) along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road with 100,000 tramadol pills at an NDLEA checkpoint on Friday, August 1.
That same day in Edo State, a warehouse was raided in Ekpoma, resulting in the arrest of William Alabi (44) and the recovery of 233.5kg of skunk.
Also at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri, Umar Aminu (38) was arrested upon arrival with 160 tramadol pills hidden in his footwear.
In Lagos, still on August 1, Ibrahim Sulaiman was arrested in Iwaya, Yaba with 16.5 litres of skuchies, a cannabis-based cocktail.
On August 2, NDLEA operatives arrested Aliyu Abubakar (25) and Adekunle Agbabiaka (30) along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway in FCT with 91.1kg of skunk.
Also on August 2, in Mushin, Lagos, Joseph Michael was arrested with 3.3kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives raided Oja Odan and arrested Yahaya Aminat Seyi with 7,218 opioid pills, mostly tramadol.
In Oyo State, Oladeji Saka (54) was nabbed in Asanike, Ibadan, with 77.5kg of skunk, and in Delta State, Benson Izah (40) was arrested in Abraka with 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine.
In Bayelsa, Chief Emeka Opara (52) and Onuoha Chidinma (25) were arrested along Tantua Road, Amassoma, where NDLEA recovered 41,705 tramadol capsules and other assorted opioids from their shop and residence.
In Kano, Bashir Gambo (30) was arrested in Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada LGA, with 61kg of skunk.
Marwa commended officers of the MMIA, MBIAM, FCT, Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Benue, Kano, and Osun Commands for the arrests, seizures, and their operational dexterity.
He urged them and their colleagues across the country to sustain NDLEA’s balanced and relentless approach to drug
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