The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), on Sunday disclosed the arrest of 14 suspects in coordinated drug interdiction operations across Ekiti, Edo, Cross River, Gombe, Taraba, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos states.
The operations led to the seizure of large quantities of cannabis sativa, cocaine, tramadol, pentazocine and other opioids, running into several tonnes and thousands of dosage units. At the same time, no cash recovery was recorded in the report.
The report signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, added that a total of 27,900 pills of tramadol were recovered during the operations.
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According to the NDLEA, traffickers adopted multiple smuggling and concealment methods, including the use of factory-sealed food items meant for export, inter-state road transport, forest warehouses, private vehicles and containerised cargo through seaports.
Providing details, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilograms, concealed in factory-sealed sachets of cold-water starch and destined for the United Kingdom on Saturday, October 12, 2025.
Three cargo agents — Jubrin Firdausi Hassana, Kuku Daniel Oluwasegun and Igwe Chioma Jane — were arrested, while further investigation identified Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil as the mastermind.
He was later arrested at a relaxation centre in Ikeja.
NDLEA records showed that he had been convicted in 2023 for trafficking “30.10 kilograms of methamphetamine, sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with an option of a N7m fine, which he paid before returning to drug trafficking.”
Subsequent raid operations at Agoi-Ibami community, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, led to the arrest of Freedom Jonah Akpama, 27, with 671 kilograms of skunk; David Itam David, 30, with 89 kilograms; and Nelson Arikpo Osam, 26, with 148 kilograms on Sunday, October 13, 2025.
NDLEA operatives destroyed tons of skunk and wooden warehouses in the Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti, while recovering 638 kilograms of cannabis sativa on Monday, October 14, 2025.
On the same day, officers intercepted three Toyota Camry vehicles along the Igara–Auchi road in Edo State, recovering 1,205 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 883.1 kilograms.
Operatives arrested Joy Oisamaye, 42, on Tuesday, October 15, 2025, along the Abaji–Abuja expressway with 38 kilograms of skunk while travelling from Otua in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
In Takum, Taraba State, officers also arrested John Onoja, 41, with 48 kilograms of the same substance.
An operation on Wednesday, October 16, 2025, by operatives in Lagos led to the arrest of Oluwasegun Felix at Itoga, Badagry, with 18.5 kilograms of skunk.
While officers in Takum, Taraba State, arrested Emmanuel Danladi, 39, with 48 kilograms of cannabis sativa.
On Thursday, October 17, 2025, NDLEA operatives arrested Ajoke Dauda at Agbara, along the Badagry expressway in Lagos, with 45.5 kilograms of skunk.
On the same day in Gombe State, officers arrested 65-year-old driver Sada’u Mohammed along the Gombe–Biu highway, recovering 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 27,900 pills of tramadol and other opioids concealed in his vehicle.
On Friday, October 18, 2025, NDLEA operatives arrested 47-year-old businessman Ignatius Egbochie, also known as Brown, in Apapa, Lagos, in connection with the earlier seizure of 56 parcels of Loud cannabis weighing 26 kilograms at the Tincan Seaport.
While commending officers, Marwa urged them to sustain professionalism and vigilance in ongoing drug control operations nationwide.