Massive Drug Crackdown: NDLEA Busts Traffickers, Recovers Over 2.3 Tonnes Of Illicit Substances

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking networks across the country, arresting multiple suspects and recovering more than 2.3 tonnes of illicit substances during coordinated operations in several states.

According to Ireporter Online, the operations targeted suspected drug traffickers and distribution networks in Lagos, Delta, Kano, Plateau, Edo, Ondo, Kaduna and Bayelsa states.

Among those arrested was a 44-year-old real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, who was apprehended on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after allegedly arriving to collect a luggage containing illicit drugs using a code said to have been sent to him by his brother based in the United Kingdom.

In another operation linked to a separate shipment from the UK, NDLEA operatives arrested 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri and recovered 12.25kg of Colorado allegedly sent to him by his brother.

The agency also intercepted consignments of Colorado concealed inside music speakers at two motor parks in Lagos.

At the Maza Maza motor park, operatives attached to the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation discovered three packs of Colorado hidden inside a music speaker. The consignment was reportedly being transported to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, before its intended movement to Liberia.

A 41-year-old tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, were subsequently arrested during an operation at a nearby eatery.

At the Iddo motor park, NDLEA officers arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday, September 11, while he was allegedly attempting to send 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba led to the recovery of several controlled substances, including pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, popularly known as Hypnox, and MDMA, also called Molly. Some of the substances were reportedly concealed inside music speakers.

Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.

In Kano State, NDLEA operatives raided an area in Sabon Gari and arrested 20-year-old Saidu Adamu, recovering 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg.

Another operation along the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road resulted in the seizure of 1,700 diazepam tablets allegedly concealed inside loaves of bread. A 28-year-old suspect, Habibu Sabitu, was arrested in connection with the discovery.

In Plateau State, operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor at Katako Market in Jos, where he was allegedly found in possession of 157,100 capsules of tramadol.

The agency also sustained its operations against illegal cannabis cultivation in Edo State, where operatives destroyed 4,832.56kg of skunk cannabis discovered on farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest.

The operations were carried out across Ovia South West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas, while a 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested on Friday, September 11.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road in Akure on Wednesday, September 9, recovering 186kg of skunk from the boot of a Toyota Avalon.

A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested and was allegedly preparing to transport the consignment to Jos for distribution.

In Kaduna State, a female suspect identified as Hannah Michael was arrested in Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.

Meanwhile, four suspects were arrested in Bayelsa State after NDLEA operatives recovered 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg at Ovom in Yenagoa.

Those arrested included 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.

Beyond the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA said its commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse campaigns, with sensitisation programmes held in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities.

The advocacy activities included an awareness lecture for students and staff of Mezube Islamiyya Academy in Tudun Wada, Kano, as well as engagements with educational institutions, traditional leaders and community stakeholders in other parts of the country.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain the pressure on drug trafficking networks.

Marwa also charged operatives to continue blocking routes used by traffickers to move illicit substances through airports, seaports, land borders and communities where cannabis is cultivated.

The agency said the nationwide operations form part of its continuing efforts to disrupt the supply, movement and distribution of illegal drugs across Nigeria.