Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled at least six major drug trafficking syndicates across the country, arresting nine suspected kingpins and seizing large quantities of assorted illicit drugs in a series of coordinated intelligence-led operations.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the crackdown involved multiple states and targeted several well-organized networks involved in methamphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, opioids, and other illegal substances.
In one major operation on November 18, 2025, officers arrested Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, 30, and Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, 51, in Onitsha, Anambra State, after they arrived to collect packages containing 5.40kg of methamphetamine, 10.70kg of Loud cannabis, 16g of cocaine, and other substances concealed inside pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa. The drugs, seized at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on November 13, were traced to the pair in a sting operation.
At the Lagos airport on November 20, NDLEA officers intercepted a brake servo part stuffed with 48 cocaine pellets and a cocaine block weighing 2.30kg en route to Gabon. Freight agent Ameh Solomon and auto parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface were arrested.
In Kogi State on November 17, officers intercepted a trailer carrying 4,700kg of skunk. Three suspects were detained, and a follow-up operation in Jos on November 21 led to the arrest of alleged kingpin Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu.
A couple, Onun Okoi Okpotum, 55, and Itam Okoi Okpotum, 52, were arrested in Ugep, Cross River State, where officers recovered 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4,706kg from their warehouse.
In Edo State, two women—Praise Nwogu, 19, and Ebong Emem Oghosa, 25—were arrested for producing and selling drug-laced brownies online. Officers recovered trays of brownies, 76g of skunk, and other substances.
A raid in Ososo village, Edo, led to the arrest of Shedrack Aminu, 35, with 59kg of skunk, while in Enugu, officers stopped Chinoso Emmanuel Monday, 24, transporting 10.1kg of skunk, 105,600 tramadol pills, 700 pentazocine ampoules, and 3,000 rounds of live ammunition.
In Kebbi State, officers evacuated 13,155 bottles of codeine syrup from a warehouse and arrested Umar Adamu, 23, with 12,548 opioid pills allegedly headed toward a Boko Haram enclave.
Further arrests included Anthony Mercy, 40, and Sunday Augustine, 39, caught with 430.5kg of drugs along the Abaji-Abuja expressway; Samson Dafe, 47, in Niger State with 85,100 opioid pills and 5,456 bottles of codeine; and Sani Mohammed in Niger State with 471.8kg of compressed skunk.
In Lagos, Usman Ayoola Adegoke was linked to 71kg of Canadian Loud found in a Lekki apartment, and Oluchi Celestine was arrested with 2.6kg of Colorado concealed in branded containers.
NDLEA also raided the notorious Peti drug enclave on Lagos Island, recovering 385kg of skunk, Loud, and Colorado. Another operation at Maza Maza led to the seizure of 163,200 tramadol capsules.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) education campaign across schools, churches, and communities.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) commended the officers for their efforts and emphasized that the intensified crackdown was necessary ahead of the festive season, when drug traffickers typically ramp up operations.
“We must not, and we will not, let down our guard,” Marwa said.
