In a sweeping series of anti-narcotics operations across multiple states, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized illicit drugs valued at over N3.4 billion, intercepted a large cache of explosives, and apprehended a long-wanted drug kingpin after 10 months in hiding.

The major haul was recorded at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, on April 29, where a joint inspection by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies uncovered 2 million pills of Tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in a container. The drugs have an estimated street value exceeding N3.42 billion.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 1.5 million pills of a controlled opioid from Olarenwaju Wahab at Alaba-Rago, Ojo. The consignment was traced to a residence at Victoria Garden City, Lekki, linked to one Obinna Kenneth, now on the run.

Meanwhile, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, officers intercepted 42 parcels of Canadian Loud (20kg) cleverly concealed in tins of chocolate, milo, and kidney beans, flown in from Canada via British Airways. Three suspects, including receiver Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, were arrested between April 30 and May 3.

A separate airport operation on May 2 led to the arrest of Bobby Morris Osas, a businessman caught attempting to smuggle 8,130 pills of tramadol to Italy. Likewise, another drug syndicate’s attempt to ship tramadol and skunk to Iraq, hidden in body cream containers, was foiled on April 28.

On May 3, NDLEA operatives on the Kaduna-Zaria expressway stopped a commercial vehicle transporting 942 explosives concealed in a sack en route to Zamfara State. A suspect, Nura Sani Muhammad, 30, was arrested and handed over for further investigation.

In Kano, a five-man syndicate led by Aminu Musa (aka Kadagi) was arrested on April 30 at Dangoro market, with 21.6kg of skunk recovered. In Edo State, a white Toyota bus conveying assorted opioids was intercepted in Uromi, with 314,020 pills of various drugs, 638 bottles of codeine, and 200 ampoules of pentazocine seized. A suspect, Dare Adeyemo, is in custody.

NDLEA also made significant busts in Anambra and Niger States. In Awka, officers arrested Chinedu Eneh and recovered 50,400 capsules of tramadol and other substances from a commercial bus. Along the Kontagora-Mokwa road in Niger State, a Mitsubishi Canter truck was found with 5,500 capsules of tramadol and 2,300 ampoules of pentazocine, leading to the arrest of Yusuf Abubakar, 30.

One of the most high-profile arrests came on April 26 when NDLEA nabbed Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku, the Managing Director of Ovidaq International Ltd. Obijiaku was behind a July 2024 consignment of 2.6 million pills of tramadol intercepted at Apapa port. A search of his Lekki residence yielded 51 wraps of Canadian Loud.

As part of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, NDLEA also carried out sensitization programs in institutions like Al-istigama University, Kano, and Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina State.