LAGOS, Nigeria (BN24)— The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) stepped up its anti-narcotics campaign last week, executing high-impact operations across multiple Nigerian states, including the arrest of a fugitive drug kingpin, massive seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, tramadol, and synthetic cannabis, and coordinated raids on hotels and trafficking routes.
The agency confirmed on Sunday that it had apprehended 60-year-old Okpara Paul Chigozie, a major drug cartel leader who had eluded capture since 2019. His arrest followed the interception of a white Toyota Sienna van at Ilasamaja, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos, around 5:45 a.m. on July 13. The van, headed toward Onitsha in Anambra State, was found to be transporting a concealed consignment of narcotics.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said operatives, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one of Okpara’s couriers, 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, during the vehicle stop. A subsequent search using sniffer dogs revealed 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle’s body compartments.
A follow-up raid on Okpara’s residence at 72 Michael Ojo Street in the Isheri area of Ojo, Lagos, led to the recovery of an additional 1.8 kilograms of cocaine and 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, further solidifying his role in the nationwide drug trafficking network.
In a related operation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with Aviation Security personnel, intercepted 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from a passenger identified as Omoregie Uyiosa, who was traveling to Italy via Turkish Airlines on July 16. Uyiosa reportedly confessed that he planned to sell the drugs overseas.
A day later, on July 17, NDLEA operatives at the airport’s export shed seized 17 parcels of cannabis sativa, commonly known as skunk, weighing 1.7 kilograms. The drugs were hidden in cereal packs intended for shipment to Pakistan. Chioba Robert Uchenna, who attempted to export the package, was taken into custody.
In Lagos’s Kosofe area, NDLEA agents raided Sarah Sam Hotels on Ogudu Road on July 19 after surveillance linked the facility to the distribution of illicit substances. The hotel, operated as a family-run business, was allegedly used to sell “party drugs.” From a room tied to suspect Obayemi Oyetade, officers recovered 1.3 kilograms of cannabis-infused chocolate, 900 grams of cannabis gummies, and 22.9 grams of skunk. Three vehicles were also seized during the raid.
The agency’s efforts extended nationwide. In Kaduna State, three men — Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi, and Emmanuel Madu — were arrested on July 19 in Narayi High Cost, Chikun LGA, with 742.866 kilograms of skunk and a synthetic cannabis strain known as Colorado.
In Kano, operatives arrested Lawan Rabiu on July 16 with 36,000 tramadol pills along the Danbatta-Kazaure Road. On July 18 in Gombe State, NDLEA seized 25,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 from a suspect named Aliyu Abubakar at Gombe Roundabout. The same day, Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were caught in Kwadom, Yemaltu Deba LGA, transporting 29 kilograms of compressed skunk.
In Borno State, authorities intercepted a Mercedes-Benz C180 carrying 74,360 opioid pills on Baga Road in Maiduguri on July 19. Audu Modu, 44, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Further south in Bayelsa, 63-year-old grandmother Akuna Nelson was taken into custody on July 17 in the Osiri area of Yenagoa. She was linked to the illegal distribution of 163 liters of “skuchies,” a locally brewed psychoactive drink.
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on July 17 arrested four suspects — Ikechukwu Abugu, 42; Sunday Ani, 18; Chukwu Christian, 46; and Emmanuel Olisakwe, 55 — along the Okene-Lokoja highway. A search of their vehicle revealed 2 kilograms of methamphetamine destined for Minna, Niger State.
In Abia, a targeted raid on July 14 at 4 Niger Street, off Ugwa Road in Aba, led to the arrest of notorious dealer Nduka Obi, 39. Officers seized multiple drug types, including tramadol, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, as well as N736,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of drug sales.
The NDLEA’s latest offensive is part of its ongoing nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking, reinforcing its commitment to disrupting supply chains and dismantling criminal networks in Nigeria’s illicit drug economy.
Credit: punching.com
