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A Lagos marble dealer was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport after NDLEA officers allegedly uncovered 1.55kg of cocaine concealed inside his luggage.
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Separate intelligence-led operations led to the recovery of 377,600 bottles of codeine syrup valued at over ₦2.6 billion and 324kg of Colorado.
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NDLEA operatives intercepted large consignments of tramadol, codeine, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine and other illicit substances across Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta states.
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NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised personnel for the successful operations while urging commands nationwide to sustain efforts against drug trafficking alongside public sensitisation campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse initiative.
August 16, (THEWILL) — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Lagos-based businessman who allegedly sold all his belongings to finance an international cocaine trafficking operation, while also recording multiple nationwide seizures of illicit drugs valued at several billions of naira in coordinated enforcement operations.
The agency in a statement signed on Sunday by its Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect, 48-year-old Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, was intercepted by its operatives at the departure hall of Terminal II of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.
According to the NDLEA, officers who searched the suspect’s checked luggage discovered 1.550 kilograms of cocaine ingeniously concealed within the side walls and railings of the travel bag in what investigators described as a deliberate attempt to beat airport security screening.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Onyebuchi, who reportedly operated a marble trading business in Lagos, allegedly disposed of his business and other personal assets to raise ₦23 million, which he used to purchase the cocaine shipment.
In his statement to investigators, the suspect allegedly admitted he intended to sell the narcotics in India for approximately ₦100 million, hoping to make a fortune from the illicit trade.
His arrest, however, abruptly ended the venture, with the NDLEA confirming that he remains in custody pending prosecution.
The airport arrest came as the anti-narcotics agency intensified intelligence-driven operations across the country, leading to several major drug recoveries.
In one of the biggest seizures, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse located within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street in the Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos.
During the operation conducted between August 7 and 8, officers recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, a controlled pharmaceutical substance, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦2.6 billion.
Another operation carried out on August 14 targeted the residence of a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, at Ipaja, Lagos. Officers recovered 324 kilograms of Colorado, a highly potent synthetic strain of cannabis, estimated to be worth about ₦972 million.
A Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla believed to be connected to the suspect’s activities were also seized.
NDLEA operatives display suspected drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, following his arrest in Lagos, where officers recovered 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, during an intelligence-led operation.
Outside Lagos, the crackdown extended to several states.
In Kwara State, NDLEA officers arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at Kam Wire in Ilorin after recovering 55.96 kilograms of skunk concealed in a truck.
Along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oyo State, operatives arrested 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, while on patrol. The suspects were allegedly transporting 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection in a Toyota Sienna vehicle.
Further operations along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway resulted in the arrest of Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18. Officers recovered 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of Rohypnol, 4,800 diazepam tablets, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.
In another Delta operation, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and ₦8 million suspected to be proceeds of criminal activity.
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On the Riyom-Jos Road in Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect identified as Kasum Sherif was arrested in connection with the seizure.
The Kano State Command also recorded significant breakthroughs. Six suspects — Okodili Ibeabuchi, Onyeka Vincent, Nwanko Wisdom, Success Chigozie, Emmanuel Jude and Chinedu Peter — were arrested during patrol operations along the Zaria-Kano Road.
Recovered from the suspects were 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, another synthetic cannabis variety.
In a separate operation at Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, officers recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8 kilograms and arrested Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775 kilograms of skunk cultivated on two cannabis farms covering approximately 1.85 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest of Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
A suspect, Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested during the farm raid, while another operation in the Oluku area of Benin City led to the arrest of Kingsley Anigala, 28, with 25.857 kilograms of Loud and 93 grams of methamphetamine.
Beyond enforcement activities, the agency said it continued implementing its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign, delivering sensitisation lectures to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos, among other educational institutions.
Commending the officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised personnel of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands for the successful arrests and seizures.
He also urged officers across the federation to sustain a balanced strategy that combines aggressive disruption of drug supply networks with continuous public education and demand reduction initiatives aimed at curbing substance abuse across Nigeria.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
