NDLEA Intercepts ₦3.4bn Worth Of Drugs, Arrests Suspected Fake Police Officer

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted more than 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids, alongside approximately 6,000 kilogrammes of cannabis, in coordinated operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to a statement issued by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the seized substances have an estimated street value exceeding ₦3.4 billion.

Among the major recoveries was the interception of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and reportedly valued at ₦1.81 billion at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos.

Babafemi said the consignment arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12, 2026, and was placed under surveillance following intelligence received by the agency. A joint physical examination involving NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies was conducted on September 16.

The inspection reportedly uncovered the parcels concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles within a 40-foot container.

In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe along the Benin–Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, where 292.48kg of skunk was allegedly found concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.

The agency alleged that Ekpe had been impersonating a senior police officer under the name Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged identification card to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs. A 39-year-old alleged accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.

In Edo State, operatives acting on intelligence reportedly raided an automobile repair workshop along Agbor Road in Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai. The operation allegedly led to the recovery of 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152 grammes of methamphetamine.

The agency said the workshop was suspected to have been used as a storage facility for illicit substances.

In Niger State, three suspects identified as Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, were reportedly arrested along the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway at Chachi in Tafa Local Government Area.

According to Babafemi, the suspects were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally manufactured pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.

Similarly, two suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested on Friday along the Abaji–Abuja Highway. The NDLEA said operatives recovered more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets allegedly concealed in eight sacks.

The suspects were reportedly transporting the substances from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba in Nasarawa State.

In Lagos, operatives recovered 48,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg from a suspect identified as Onyeka Ofor, who was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere. Another suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was arrested following the interception of seven cartons of cannabis weighing 59kg at a logistics company.

Babafemi also disclosed that 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu was arrested at Apongbo in Lagos, where 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas was recovered.

In Gombe State, the agency reportedly recovered 154,480 tramadol capsules from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19. The suspects were arrested at Barunde and Gombe Main Market, respectively.

The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain intelligence-led efforts against illicit drug trafficking across the country.

Marwa also called for the continuation of a balanced approach to drug control, stressing the importance of maintaining coordinated operations nationwide.

The suspects remain subject to investigation, while the allegations against them are yet to be established in court.