Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a suspected major drug supplier to bandits operating in Niger State, even as the agency recorded multiple arrests and large seizures of illicit drugs across several states of the federation.

The suspect, 33-year-old Mohammed Sani, popularly known as Gamboli, was apprehended on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at a drug hideout in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta, in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. His arrest came three weeks after he escaped during a raid on his residence in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, where NDLEA operatives recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, on November 20.

NDLEA intelligence reports identified Gamboli as a key supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating within Shiroro LGA. Following weeks of surveillance and intelligence-led tracking, operatives successfully located and arrested him at one of his drug joints.

Meanwhile, in Abia State, NDLEA officers on December 11 uncovered a clandestine codeine syrup production facility at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, in Osisioma Local Government Area. A total of 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup, weighing 1,152.2 kilograms, were recovered during the operation.

In Enugu State, operatives arrested Ossai Emeka, 45, along the Onitsha–Enugu Ezike Road with 7.2 kilograms of skunk, while Enoje Agada, 40, was intercepted on the Enugu-Ezike–Ette Road with 94.6 kilograms of the same substance.

A raid on a notorious drug joint known as “Beere the California” in Ido, Oyo State, led to the seizure of 3.4 kilograms of skunk, 1.6 kilograms of Colorado (synthetic cannabis), and 400 grams of methamphetamine. One suspect, Ajibade Faruk, was arrested, while the alleged owner of the joint, identified as “Idowu the Killer,” remains at large. In a separate operation in Ibadan, NDLEA officers arrested Olusanya Abosede, 35, and recovered 238.4 kilograms of skunk.

At the Gbaji checkpoint along the Seme Road in Badagry, Lagos State, NDLEA operatives arrested Bashiru Babalola, 43, and Ugunwale Ranti, 50, with 50,000 pills of tramadol (250mg). In Ogun State, two suspects, Akinwale Makanjuola and Joseph Owolabi, were apprehended with 73 kilograms of skunk at Iperu, while Wasiu Lateef was arrested with 25 kilograms of the substance at Oke Agbede, Imeko area.

In Ondo State, a raid carried out on December 10 at Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area led to the arrest of a 55-year-old woman, Veronica Obi, and her 29-year-old son, Bright Obi. NDLEA operatives recovered 1,187 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds from the compound.

Similarly, in Edo State, Ohiomah Igbafe, 44, was arrested during an operation at Uroe community, Owan East Local Government Area, where 461 kilograms of skunk and seeds were recovered. In Gombe State, Muhammed Sani, also known as Sha-Mu-Sha, 50, was arrested with 40,000 capsules of tramadol, while two other suspects were apprehended with 56 kilograms of skunk at Ashaka Jalingo.

Beyond local seizures, NDLEA operatives intercepted no fewer than 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline, and bromazepam concealed in containers of black soap and designer clothing. The consignments, destined for the United States, Canada, and Sweden, were seized at courier facilities in Lagos between December 9 and 10. At the Apapa seaport, officers also intercepted 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579 kilograms during a joint container examination on December 13.

The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitization programmes in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities across several states, including Katsina, Kano, Benue, and Enugu.

Commending the officers involved in the nationwide operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), urged personnel to maintain the agency’s balanced approach of enforcement and public sensitization in the ongoing fight against drug abuse and trafficking.