NDLEA Seizes ₦10bn Cocaine, Loud, Opioids at Lagos Ports; Arrests Suspected Kingpin

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted illicit drugs valued at more than ₦10 billion in a series of coordinated operations across Lagos ports and airports, leading to the arrest of several suspects, including an alleged drug trafficking kingpin linked to a cocaine shipment destined for the United Kingdom.

The agency disclosed that a 55-year-old Balogun Market trader, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, was arrested after investigations traced a cocaine consignment concealed inside cartons of foodstuffs to him.

According to the NDLEA, Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday, July 23, a day after operatives intercepted 3.30 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in export cargo at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The agency said investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents, Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim who handled the shipment.

Further intelligence reportedly led operatives to Kenneth Okakpu, who allegedly delivered the cocaine to the cargo agents before investigators identified Onuigbo as the suspected leader of the trafficking network.

The NDLEA said Onuigbo was arrested while allegedly preparing to export another cocaine consignment.

US Cannabis Shipment Intercepted

In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, after recovering 2.80 kilogrammes of "Loud," a potent synthetic cannabis strain.

The agency said the illicit consignment arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight before investigators tracked it to the suspect.

₦2.2bn Worth of Opioids Seized

At the Lagos airport cargo terminal, operatives also intercepted 2,240,000 pills of Tapentadol 250mg, an opioid medication commonly abused as a narcotic.

The shipment, which arrived aboard an Air Maroc flight from India, was valued at more than ₦2.2 billion, according to the agency.

The seizure followed what the NDLEA described as intelligence-led cargo profiling and inspection conducted on Friday, July 24.

Earlier, on July 22, another shipment containing tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap and destined for the United Kingdom was intercepted at a Lagos courier company.

Canadian Loud Worth ₦7.1bn Recovered at Apapa

At Apapa Seaport, NDLEA officers uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5 kilogrammes concealed inside a container carrying imported vehicles.

The agency estimated the street value of the cannabis shipment at more than ₦7.1 billion, making it one of the largest cannabis seizures recorded this year.

Ammunition Recovered in Katsina, Kaduna

Outside Lagos, NDLEA operatives also recovered military-grade ammunition during separate operations in Katsina and Kaduna states.

In Katsina, Mustapha Sani, 30, was arrested at Baure, Safana Local Government Area, with 323 rounds of ammunition, comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.

Meanwhile, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested during a stop-and-search operation at Jere with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside containers of red oil.

The NDLEA said both suspects and the recovered ammunition have been handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigation.

Cannabis Warehouse Raided in Edo

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ilushi community, Esan South East Local Government Area, recovering 1,286 kilogrammes of cannabis and 86 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds.

The operation also led to the arrest of Ojore Onweze, 45, who was allegedly found with 60 kilogrammes of skunk, while George Agwumede, 30, was arrested with 13 kilogrammes of the same substance.

Anti-Drug Campaign Continues

Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continues nationwide through sensitisation programmes in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities.

Recent public awareness activities were held at Government Day Secondary School, Sabon Wuse (Niger State), Government Girls Secondary School, Shekara (Kano State) and Otto Primary School, Ebute Metta (Lagos State).

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) as well as commands in MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna and Katsina for the successful operations.

He urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency's strategy of combining aggressive drug interdiction with preventive education aimed at reducing drug abuse and trafficking nationwide.