During a large operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seized illicit drugs worth over ₦3.4 billion in Port Harcourt and Lagos. The drugs consisted of opioids and codeine syrup concealed in various containers, including chocolate tins.
On 29th April 2025, NDLEA officials, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agents, jointly searched a watch-listed container at the Onne Port Harcourt Ports Complex. The search led to the seizure of approximately 2 million pills of tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup.
In Lagos, a suspect named Olarenwaju Wahab was apprehended in the Alaba-Rago area of Ojo with 1.5 million pills of a controlled opioid. Further investigations traced the source of this consignment to a residence in Victoria Garden City, Lekki, linked to one Obinna Kenneth, who is currently at large.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 20kg. These were cleverly hidden in tins of chocolate, milo beverage, white kidney beans, and dark red kidney beans. The consignment arrived via a British Airways flight from Canada. Three suspects, including the intended recipient, Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, were arrested between April 30 and May 3.
On May 2, at the Lagos airport, a businessman named Bobby Morris Osas was arrested while attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Italy. A search of his luggage revealed 8,130 pills of tramadol in varying dosages.
On April 28, NDLEA officers thwarted an attempt to ship 104 grams of tramadol and skunk concealed in bottles of body cream to Iraq through a courier company in Lagos.
In Kaduna, on May 3, operatives intercepted a commercial vehicle on the Kaduna–Zaria expressway. A search led to the discovery of 942 explosives concealed in a sack, resulting in the arrest of a 30-year-old suspect, Nura Sani Muhammad.
In Kano, on April 30, five members of a syndicate led by Aminu Musa were arrested at Dangoro market with 50 blocks of skunk weighing 21.6kg.
In Edo State, on May 1, operatives intercepted a white Toyota bus in Uromi, Esan North-East, conveying assorted opioids from Onitsha to Auchi. Recovered items included 314,020 pills of various drugs, 638 bottles of codeine syrup, and 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection. A suspect, Dare Adeyemo, was taken into custody.
In Anambra State, on April 30, a Mazda commercial bus was intercepted at Agu-Awka junction. Recovered were 50,400 capsules of tramadol, 500 tablets of co-codamol, and 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection. A suspect, Chinedu Eneh, was arrested.
In Niger State, on May 3, NDLEA officers intercepted a Mitsubishi canter truck on the Kontagora–Mokwa road. A search revealed 5,500 capsules of tramadol and 2,300 ampoules of pentazocine injection. A suspect, Yusuf Abubakar, 30, was arrested.
After a 10-month investigation, on April 26, NDLEA operatives arrested Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku, the 52-year-old Managing Director of Ovidaq International Ltd. He is implicated in the importation of 2,616,060 pills of tramadol intercepted at Apapa seaport on July 28, 2024. A follow-up operation at his residence in Lekki led to the seizure of 51 wraps of Canadian Loud weighing 34 grams.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the agency’s officers across various commands for their diligence and effectiveness in these operations. He emphasized the importance of balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
