By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking, intercepting a series of sophisticated smuggling attempts and dismantling key syndicates across several states.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, NDLEA operatives seized parcels of Loud a potent strain of cannabis hidden in microwave ovens imported from Thailand. Acting on credible intelligence, the officers discovered 23 parcels weighing 11.3kg during a routine inspection of a consolidated cargo that arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok via Addis Ababa on July 7, 2025. A suspect, Ezenwegbu Chike, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
In a separate incident at the Lagos airport export shed, officials intercepted a consignment of cocaine concealed in female lipsticks. The illicit drugs, destined for Malabo, Guinea, were discovered within a cargo of cosmetics and beauty products. A total of 400 grams of cocaine and phenacetine, a common cutting agent, were recovered. Ezeikwelume Prince Afam, a businessman based at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos, was arrested on July 11 in connection with the discovery.
This interception followed a similar bust the previous week, where 420 grams of cocaine were recovered from 84 lipstick tubes heading to the United Kingdom.
In another assignment, after a year-long manhunt, NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit arrested Okechukwu Izugha, also known as Okey Omeogo, a notorious drug kingpin, on July 9 at his wife's shop in Ijesha Market, Lagos. Izugha had gone underground following the seizure of 9kg of cocaine linked to him on August 7, 2024, from a suspect intercepted at a motor park in Orile, Lagos.
His wife, Maureen Izugha, had previously been arrested with 500 grams of cocaine at her beverage store and was later convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in January 2025. Unaware that the agency was still tracking him, Izugha resurfaced and was promptly apprehended.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed over 28,000kg of cannabis (skunk) cultivated on three farms spanning 11 hectares in the Ewere Uzebba forest of Owan West LGA on July 8. Additionally, 82kg of processed cannabis was recovered from the site. While exiting the forest, the team came under attack by armed cartel members. The officers repelled the assault and sustained no injuries, although one operational vehicle was damaged by gunfire.
In Lagos, 1,400 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud weighing 700kg were intercepted at Okun-Ajah Beach, and a Ford truck used for transportation was seized. Two suspects—Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul—were arrested with an additional 26kg of Ghana Loud, 123 grams of methamphetamine, 45 grams of Molly, and a delivery van.
In Borno, NDLEA officers arrested 42-year-old Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi on July 12 with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine, along with quantities of tramadol and rohypnol. This followed the earlier arrest of Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu on July 9 with 10,000 tramadol pills.
Gombe Command recovered a combined 116,226 pills of tramadol and D5 from five suspects during operations at Gombe Main Market and along the Gombe-Kano road between July 8 and 12.
In Kogi State, Sabiu Bala was arrested on July 10 along the Okene-Lokoja expressway with 316.6kg of skunk. In Kaduna State, Haladu Suleiman, 38, was arrested in Gubuchi, Ikara LGA, with 58.8kg of skunk.
Taraba State Command intercepted a petrol tanker concealing 577,890 opioid pills and 1.16kg of skunk in its tyre compartment at Lanka Viri checkpoint on July 12. Three suspects—Auwal Ibrahim, 30; Lukman Ibrahim, 18; and Hamza Adamu, 25—were arrested based on actionable intelligence.
In Kano, three suspects—Shamsudini Abdullahi, 35; Adamu Abdullahi, 21; and Magaji Rabo, 26—were arrested with 48.1kg of skunk on July 9 near Janguza Barracks.
NDLEA's War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative continued its outreach efforts with sensitisation lectures in schools and communities. Among the beneficiaries were students and staff of:
The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended operatives across Lagos, Edo, Taraba, Kano, Kogi, Gombe, Borno, and Kaduna for their recent successes.
He praised their commitment to striking a balance between curbing drug supply and reducing drug demand through proactive law enforcement and public sensitisation.
"Our collective resolve to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs remains unwavering. These achievements are a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our personnel, Marwa said.
