The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded major nationwide breakthroughs in its ongoing fight against drug trafficking, culminating in the arrest of a 60-year-old drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, who had been on the run since 2019.

Okpara was apprehended on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at his hideout in Isheri, Ojo LGA of Lagos State, after one of his couriers, Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, was intercepted along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. NDLEA operatives found 7.6kg of cocaine and 900g of methamphetamine hidden in a Toyota Sienna vehicle. A follow-up raid at Okpara’s residence yielded another 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine.

In a related operation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, NDLEA agents and FAAN security personnel arrested an Italy-bound passenger, Omoregie Nice Uyiosa, with 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol concealed in his luggage. Meanwhile, Chioba Robert Uchenna was arrested at the airport’s export shed attempting to ship 1.7kg of cannabis skunk hidden in Golden Morn cereal packs to Pakistan.

In Kosofe, Lagos, a raid on Sarah Sam Hotel led to the seizure of 1.3kg of chocolate cannabis, 900g of drug-laced gummies, and 22.9g of skunk. The prime suspect, Obayemi Oyetade, believed to be leading a local drug network, was arrested.

Further across the country:

In Kaduna, three suspects were arrested with 742.8kg of skunk and synthetic cannabis (Colorado).

In Kano, 36,000 tramadol pills were seized from Lawan Rabiu.

25,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered in Gombe, while 29kg of compressed skunk was seized from two suspects in Kwadom.

In Borno, officers seized 74,360 opioid pills from a suspect driving a Mercedes Benz along Baga road, Maiduguri.

In Bayelsa, a 63-year-old woman, Akuna Nelson, was arrested with 163 litres of skuchies.

On the Okene-Lokoja highway, four men were caught with 2kg of methamphetamine.

In Abia, a raid in Aba led to the seizure of tramadol, cocaine, heroin, meth, and N736,000 from a notorious dealer, Nduka Obi.

In Enugu, 45,000 tramadol pills were intercepted on the Onitsha–Enugu expressway.

In Taraba, 10,000 tramadol capsules were recovered from two suspects at Dan Anacha, Gassol LGA.

Meanwhile, NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continued with sensitization programs in schools across Niger, Adamawa, Enugu, Anambra, and Kano States.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the agency’s officers across Lagos, MMIA, Kaduna, Osun, Bayelsa, Gombe, Borno, Abia, Kogi, Enugu, and Taraba for their “relentless efforts” in balancing drug supply suppression with demand reduction across the country.