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Tag: NDLEA

  • Police, NDLEA, NSCDC pledge support for forest security

    Police, NDLEA, NSCDC pledge support for forest security

    In a significant boost to inter-agency cooperation, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have pledged support for the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS).

    The endorsement came at the closing ceremony of a specialised training for the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Provost departments of the NFSS in Abuja.

    Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ajao Adewale, said collaboration among security agencies is critical to combating insecurity, particularly in forests. He noted that the FCT, surrounded by vast forest and mountainous terrain, had become a hideout for criminals migrating from other states.

    “Fighting insecurity is not the job of one agency alone. Intelligence is the lifeline of any security operation. This training shows your readiness to raise your operational standards,” he said.

    Adewale commended the NFSS for its proactive approach and called for continued synergy in data sharing and intelligence-based policing to improve community safety.

    Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brig-Gen Buba Marwa, who was represented by the agency’s Deputy Director of Operations and Investigation, Kayode Raji, also praised the NFSS for investing in intelligence training. He assured continued collaboration, especially in the fight against drug-related crimes within forest regions.

    “No single agency can fight crime alone. Security must be networked to be effective and to prevent inter-agency friction,” he added.

    READ ALSO; Making NELFUND work

    FCT Commandant of the NSCDC, Olusola Odumosun, lauded the NFSS for its commitment to national security, reiterating the Corps’ readiness to continue partnering with forest security operatives to safeguard lives and property.

    Commander-General of the NFSS, Dr. Joshua Osatimehin, said the training was part of efforts to enhance the capacity of key departments to coordinate better with other security bodies.

    “The Department of State Services (DSS), the military, and the police all participated in the training to share their experience. Our officers are now better prepared, more confident, and strategically positioned to tackle insecurity in forest zones,” he added.

    Osatimehin urged NFSS personnel to continue to build on the momentum and strengthen inter-agency collaboration in the security architecture.

  • NDLEA arrests Iran-bound woman with cocaine at Port Harcourt Airport

    NDLEA arrests Iran-bound woman with cocaine at Port Harcourt Airport

    • 22-year-old British ex-convict nabbed with large drug shipment at MMIA

    • Fuel tanker, three vehicles with 3,047kg skunk in Niger, 775 litres of codeine in Kano intercepted

    National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a woman, Ihensekhien Miracle Obehi, who disguised with a hijab to export large consignments of cocaine concealed in her private part, stomach and false bottom of her handbag on her way to Iran at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement, said Obehi, who was dressed in hijab to beat security checks, was intercepted at the Departure Hall of the airport on May 3 while trying to board a Qatar Airline flight to Iran via Doha, following credible intelligence.

    According to the statement, during a search on her, she was found to have inserted three wraps of cocaine in her private part, and two large parcels hidden in false compartments of her handbag while she swallowed 67 pellets of the Class A drug.

    When placed under observation some days, she excreted the 67 wraps in her stomach.

    She confessed that she wanted to swallow 70 pellets of cocaine but after ingesting the 67 pieces, she could no longer take the remaining ones. So, she decided to insert them in her private part.

    “The total weight of the three consignments hidden in different parts of her body comes to 2.523 kilograms,’ Babafemi said.

    Last Friday, the spokesman said, the operatives at the MMIA also arrested a 22-year-old Briton, Campell Kaizra Kofi Johannes Slifer, on his way from Thailand via Doha on Qatar Airways flight with two suitcases with 35 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 37.60kg.

    READ ALSO; Making NELFUND work

    Babafemi said Campell, who claimed he had been convicted twice in the United Kingdom for drug trafficking and robbery, said he was recruited in London to travel to Thailand to pick the illicit consignment and bring the same to Nigeria.

    The statement reads: “In Niger State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence on Wednesday 7th May intercepted a fuel truck marked ABJ 693 XU and three other vehicles loaded with 246 bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis with a combined weight of 3, 047 kilograms along Suleja-Kaduna Road.

    “Four suspects arrested with the exhibits include: Christopher Onyema, 47;  Benedict Etineruba Young, 54; Chukwudi Ujue Jerry, 30; and Mohammed Abdullahi Danasabe.’’

    Beside, the three vehicles recovered from the suspects were Honda Odyssey bus marked YAB 667 CZ; Gulf bus with registration number GWA 125 TQ and Honda Odyssey bus marked ABJ 230 CN.

    Also, last Thursday, at Oja Amukoko in Ijora, Lagos, two suspects – Eze Chekube Emmanuel and Ike Samuel Chinyerem – were arrested by operatives with a total of 109,914 pills of tramadol, swinol and nitrozepam.

    “While 52.5kg skunk was recovered from two suspects – Lukman Sabo Umar, 23, and Tukur Ammadu, 20 – in a bus at Gwantu, Sanga LGA, Kaduna State on Tuesday 6th May, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu- Jebba expressway, Kwara State on Monday 5th May arrested Rufai Nasiru with 45,400 pills of tramadol 225mg.’’

    Babafemi added that on May 6, the agency officers on patrol on the Bauchi-Gombe Road, Bauchi, State intercepted a Toyota Tundra jeep marked RBC 111 DW conveying 526 blocks of skunk weighing 505kg with two suspects: Isaac Onogure, 37 and Ikechukwu Peter, 44.

      Thirty-one kegs of 775-litre codeine syrup were recovered from two suspects –

    Hafizu Isa Uman, 34, and Ismail Shehu, 48 – when NDLEA operatives raided their hideout at Rijiyar Zaki,  Kano last Saturday, while 1.1kg of Loud consignment in a pillow coming from Thailand was last Tuesday  was nabbed by officers at a courier firm in Lagos.

     Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised the officers and their counterparts in the commands across the country for their efforts.

  • NDLEA arrests Iran-bound woman with cocaine in private part, stomach, bag at PH airport

    NDLEA arrests Iran-bound woman with cocaine in private part, stomach, bag at PH airport

    • …nabs 22-year-old British ex-convict with large drug shipment at MMIA
    • …intercepts fuel tanker, three vehicles with 3, 047kg skunk in Niger, 775 litres of codeine in Kano

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a woman, Ihensekhien Miracle Obehi, who disguised herself with a hijab to export large consignments of cocaine concealed in her private part, stomach and false bottom of her handbag to Iran at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, said

    Obehi, who was dressed in hijab to beat security checks, was intercepted at the departure hall of the Port Harcourt airport on Sunday, 3rd May 2025, while trying to board a Qatar Airline flight to Iran via Doha following credible intelligence.

    According to the statement, during her search, she was found to have inserted three wraps of cocaine in her private part, and two large parcels hidden in false compartments of her handbag, while she swallowed 67 pellets of the Class A drug.

    “As a result, she was placed under excretion observation and after four excretions that lasted days, she expelled the 67 wraps of the substance in her stomach.

    “She claimed she was to swallow 70 pellets of cocaine, but after ingesting 67 pieces, she could no longer swallow the remaining three and decided to insert them into her private part.

    “The total weight of the three consignments hidden in different parts of her body comes to 2.523 kilograms,’ Babafemi said.

    The Spokesman said in like manner, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos on Friday 9th May intercepted a 22-year-old British national, Campell Kaizra Kofi Johannes Slifer coming from Thailand through Doha on Qatar Airways flight with two suitcases loaded with 35 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 37.60kg.

    Babafemi said Campbell, who claimed he had twice been convicted in the UK for drug trafficking and robbery, said he was recruited in London to travel to Thailand to pick the illicit consignment and bring same to Nigeria.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests 62,595 suspects, convicts 11,628

    The statement reads, “In Niger state, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence on Wednesday 7th May intercepted a fuel truck marked ABJ 693 XU and three other vehicles loaded with 246 bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis with a combined weight of 3, 047 kilograms along Suleja-Kaduna road. 

    “Four suspects arrested with the exhibits include: Christopher Onyema, 47; Benedict Etineruba Young, 54; Chukwudi Ujue Jerry, 30; and Mohammed Abdullahi Danasabe.

    “Apart from the fuel truck, three other vehicles recovered from the suspects include: Honda Odyssey bus marked YAB 667 CZ; Gulf bus with registration number GWA 125 TQ and, Honda Odyssey bus marked ABJ 230 CN.

    “At Oja Amukoko in Ijora area of Lagos, two suspects: Eze Chekube Emmanuel and Ike Samuel Chinyerem were on Thursday, 8th May, arrested by NDLEA operatives with a total of 109,914 pills of tramadol, swinol and nitrozepam seized from them.

    “While a 52.5kg skunk was recovered from two suspects: Lukman Sabo Umar, 23, and Tukur Ammadu, 20, in a bus at Gwantu, Sanga LGA, Kaduna State on Tuesday, 6th May, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu- Jebba expressway, Kwara State on Monday, 5th May arrested Rufai Nasiru with 45,400 pills of tramadol 225mg.

    “In Bauchi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Bauchi-Gombe road on Tuesday, 6th May, intercepted a Toyota Tundra jeep marked RBC 111 DW conveying 526 blocks of skunk weighing 505kg with two suspects: Isaac Onogure, 37, and Ikechukwu Peter, 44, arrested.

    “A total of 31 kegs containing 775 litres of codeine syrup were recovered from two suspects:

    Hafizu Isa Uman, 34, and Ismail Shehu, 48, when NDLEA operatives raided their hideout at Rijiyar Zaki area of Kano on Saturday, 10th May, while 1.1kg of Loud consignment concealed in pillow coming from Thailand was on Tuesday, 6th May, intercepted by NDLEA officers at a courier company in Lagos.

    “The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

    “Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Federal Government College, Sokoto; Deeper Life International College, Nteje, Anambra; Martins Sanda Girls Science College, Paikoro, Niger state; Restoration Power International School, Idua Eket, Akwa Ibom; while Oyo state command delivered WADA enlightenment lecture to members of the League of Imams and Alfas at Iseyin Central Mosque, Iseyin, among others.

    “While commending the officers and men of DOGI, MMIA, PHIA, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Kwara, and Niger Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.”

  • NDLEA seizes N3.4b drugs in Lagos, Port Harcourt

    NDLEA seizes N3.4b drugs in Lagos, Port Harcourt

    National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 942 explosives headed for Zamfara State on the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement yesterday.

    Babafemi said the explosives, which were in a sack were seized by operatives on patrol on Saturday in a commercial vehicle coming from Nasarawa State.

    He added that a 30-year-old suspect Nura Sani Muhammad (alias Nura Hariji) was arrested.

    Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) who praised  officers for a good job, ordered that the suspect and exhibits be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further action.

    Babafemi, in a statement, also said 3.5million pills of opioids and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup worth N3,428,000,000  were seized in Port Harcourt, Rivers and Lagos states.

    He said the bulk of the seizures: two million pills of tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup, was made last Tuesday during an examination of a container by the agency officers, men of Customs Service and other agencies at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne.

    Babafemi said in Lagos that 1.5million pills of opioid were recovered from a suspect, Olarenwaju Wahab, at the Alaba-Rago, Ojo last Tuesday while the source of the consignment was traced to Q104B Road 25, Victoria Garden City, Lekki, the residence of Obinna Kenneth, now at large.

    Read Also: NDLEA nabs three in Jigawa with N2.6bn worth of Tramadol, Pregabalin

    He added that NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos intercepted 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 20kg, in tins of chocolate, milo beverage, white and dark red kidney beans packaged as part of cargos that came into the Lagos airport onboard a British Airways flight from Canada.

    Babafemi said three suspects, including the receiver, Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, were arrested between April 30 and May 3.

    He said a businessman Bobby Morris Osas was last Friday arrested at the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Italy. A  search of his luggage led to the seizure of 8,130 pills of tramadol 225mg, 200mg and 100mg.

    Babafemi added that an attempt by another syndicate to ship 104grams of tramadol and skunk concealed in bottles of body cream to Iraq through a courier company in Lagos was also thwarted on April 28 by the agency’s Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) Directorate.

    He said: “Five members of a syndicate led by Aminu Musa (a.k.a  Kadagi) were on Wednesday 30th April arrested by NDLEA operatives at Dangoro market, Kano with 50 blocks of skunk weighing 21.6kg recovered from them. In Edo State, operatives acting on intelligence on May 1 intercepted at Uromi, Esan Northeast, a white Toyota bus conveying assorted opioids from Onitsha, Anambra State heading to Auchi.

    “Recovered from the vehicle include: 314,020 pills of tramadol, rophynol, diazepam, exol5; 638 bottles of codeine syrup and 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, while a suspect, Dare Adeyemo, was taken into custody.”

    “A Mazda commercial bus marked XA343TSE was equally intercepted at Agu-Awka Junction, Awka, Anambra State by NDLEA operatives on April 30, while a total of 50,400 capsules of tramadol, 500 tablets of co-codamol and 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection were recovered and a suspect Chinedu Eneh arrested.

    “In Niger State, NDLEA officers on patrol on Kontagora -Mokwa Road on Saturday, May 3 intercepted a Mitsubishi canter truck marked RBH 104 ZY. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 5,500 capsules of tramadol  and 2,300 ampoules of pentazocine injection as well as the arrest of a suspect Yusuf Abubakar, 30. 

    “After 10 months of painstaking investigation, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 26th April arrested a wanted drug kingpin, the 52-year-old Managing Director of Ovidaq International Limited, Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku over his involvement in the importation of a consignment of 2,616,060 pills of tramadol 225mg intercepted by NDLEA at Apapa seaport in Lagos on July 28, 2024.

    “A follow-up operation at his house in Lekki led to the seizure of 51 wraps of Canadian Loud weighing 34grams.

  • NDLEA intercepts 942 explosives, seizes N3.4 billion worth of opioids in Lagos, PH

    NDLEA intercepts 942 explosives, seizes N3.4 billion worth of opioids in Lagos, PH

    • …uncovers drugs in chocolate tins

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted 942 explosives headed for Zamfara along the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

    Babafemi said the explosives were seized by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway on Saturday, May 3, in a commercial vehicle coming from Nasarawa State.

    He said a search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 942 explosives concealed in a sack.

    He added that a 30-year-old suspect, Nura Sani Muhammad (alias Nura Hariji) was arrested in respect to the seizure.

    According to the statement, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), directed that the suspect and exhibits be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further action.

    Babafemi also said 3,500,000 pills of opioids and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup with a combined street value of N3,428,000,000 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Lagos State.

    Read Also: NDLEA recovers N1.042b illicit drugs in raid of Lagos hotel

    He said the bulk of the seizures include two million pills of tafrodol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup, was made on Tuesday 29th April 2025 during a joint examination of a watch-listed container by NDLEA officers, men of Customs Service and other security agencies at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state.

    Babafemi said in Lagos, a total of 1,500,000 pills of a controlled opioid were recovered from a suspect Olarenwaju Wahab at the Alaba-Rago area of Ojo on Tuesday 29th April while the source of the consignment was traced to Q104B Road 25, Victoria Garden City, Lekki, which is the residence of one Obinna Kenneth who is now at large.

    He added that NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos intercepted 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 20kg, concealed in tins of chocolate, milo beverage, white kidney beans and dark red kidney beans packaged as part of cargos that came into the Lagos airport onboard a British Airways flight from Canada.

    Babafemi said at least three suspects, including the receiver of the consignment, Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, have been arrested between Wednesday 30th April and Saturday, 3rd May.

    He said in like manner, a businessman, Bobby Morris Osas, was on Friday, 2nd May, arrested at the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Italy. A thorough search of his luggage led to the seizure of 8,130 pills of tramadol 225mg, 200m,g and 100mg.

    Babafemi added that an attempt by another syndicate to ship 104 grams of tramadol and skunk concealed in bottles of body cream to Iraq through a courier company in Lagos was also thwarted on Monday, 28th April, by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI).

    He said, “Five members of a syndicate led by Aminu Musa (a.k.a Kadagi) were arrested on Wednesday, 30th April arrested by NDLEA operatives at Dangoro market, Kano, with 50 blocks of skunk weighing 21.6kg recovered from them. In Edo state, operatives acting on intelligence on Thursday, 1st May, intercepted at Uromi, Esan North-East, a white Toyota bus conveying assorted opioids from Onitsha, Anambra state, heading to Auchi.

    “Recovered from the vehicle include: 314,020 pills of tramadol, rophynol, diazepam, exol5; 638 bottles of codeine syrup and 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, while a suspect.

    Dare Adeyemo was taken into custody.

    “A Mazda commercial bus marked XA343TSE was equally intercepted at Agu-Awka junction, Awka, Anambra state by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 30th April, while a total of 50,400 capsules of tramadol, 500 tablets of co-codamol and 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection were recovered, and a suspect, Chinedu Eneh arrested.

    “In Niger state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Kontagora -Mokwa road on Saturday 3rd May intercepted a Mitsubishi canter truck marked RBH 104 ZY. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 5,500 capsules of tramadol and 2,300 ampoules of pentazocine injection as well as the arrest of a suspect, Yusuf Abubakar, 30. 

    “After 10 months of painstaking investigation, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 26th April arrested a wanted drug kingpin, the 52-year-old Managing Director of Ovidaq International Ltd, Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku, over his involvement in the importation of a consignment of 2,616,060 pills of tramadol 225mg intercepted by NDLEA at Apapa seaport in Lagos on 28th July 2024.

    “A follow-up operation at his house in Lekki led to the seizure of 51 wraps of Canadian Loud weighing 34 grams.

    “The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture delivered to students and staff of Al-istigama University, Kano, and students and staff of Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina state, among others.

    “While commending the officers and men of DOGI, MMIA, Lagos, Kano, PHPC, Kaduna, Anambra, Edo, Niger and Apapa Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

  • NDLEA nabs three in Jigawa with N2.6bn worth of Tramadol, Pregabalin

    NDLEA nabs three in Jigawa with N2.6bn worth of Tramadol, Pregabalin

    The Jigawa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three suspects with controlled drugs valued at over N2.6 billion.

    Speaking during the parade of the suspects at the command’s headquarters in Dutse on Monday, the State Commandant, Mr. Musa Maina, described the bust as one of the biggest in the command’s history. 

    The arrest was made following a sting operation in the Gumel area.

    According to Maina, the suspects—Jamilu Muhammad, Abba Ibrahim, and Shuaibu Umar—were apprehended while transporting the drugs in a Toyota Sienna and an 18-seater Hummer bus, both of which were impounded.

    He disclosed that the illegal drugs, destined for distribution from Konar Dolle to various parts of Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, and even Niger Republic, were intercepted after a three-day intelligence-led operation spanning Jigawa and Kano States.

    Read Also: NDLEA recovers N1.042b illicit drugs in raid of Lagos hotel

    The seized substances included 118.6 tons of Tramadol tablets and 195.3 kilograms of Pregabalin capsules, among other controlled drugs.

    Mr. Maina said the operation was the result of meticulous planning and effective intelligence gathering.

    Maina highlighted that the suspects are undergoing further investigation to uncover the masterminds behind the large-scale drug trafficking.

    The NDLEA Commander therefore described the seizure as the agency’s biggest achievement in combating drug trafficking in the State.

  • NDLEA recovers N1.042b illicit drugs in raid of Lagos hotel

    NDLEA recovers N1.042b illicit drugs in raid of Lagos hotel

    • Operatives intercepts 2 million tramadol pills in Kano, Jigawa
    • Arrest three Ghanaian ladies for cross border trafficking

    National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raided a new 80-room hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos used as a cover for distributing illicit substances and after hours of combing the rooms recovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis with a total weight of 417.3 kilograms worth N1,042,500,000.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, broke the news yesterday.

    In a statement, he  said three suspects, Eze Ayitu; Ofuokwu Samuel; and Emmanuel Ameh, were arrested during the operation at the five-storey hotel building between April 25 and 26.

    Babafemi said two other suspects – Noble Philip and his partner Kenneth – were on the run.

    The statement said the items recovered from the Victoria Island, Lagos-based hotel “include Toyota Prado Landcruiser Jeep (Lagos AKD 472 OZ); Toyota Sienna Vehicle (Lagos KJA 79 HJ); Volkswagen Delivery Van (Lagos AAA 525 JE); Kia Ceranto Car (Lagos BDG 860 GQ); Grand Caravan Dodge (Lagos APP 847 YF); 74 new TV sets; 10 used TV sets; and 13 refrigerators, among others”.

    Babafemi said in another major interdiction in Jigawa State with a follow-up in Kano, their operatives on April 23 seized consignments of opioids being moved from Kano to Niger Republic and Yobe State through Jigawa.

    He said the psychoactive substances were being moved in a Toyota Sienna vehicle marked ABJ 182 NW about 2:30am on Wednesday along Kano-Ringim Road, Gumel town when anti-narcotic officers intercepted them with two suspects – Abba Ibrahim, 28, and Shuaibu Umar, 29  – arrested.

    Babafemi added: “Recovered from the Sienna vehicle were 200,000 pills of tramadol 250mg and 217,500 capsules of pregabalin. A swift follow up in Kano led to the arrest of the supplier, 41-year-old Jamilu Muhammad, at his residence at Mil Tara, Layin Technical, Kano while additional 1,584,000 pills of tramadol 250mg stacked inside a Nissan 18-seater bus marked DAL 372 XA  and a room in his house were discovered and evacuated. This brings the total number of the recovered opioids to 2,001,500 pills.’’

    Read Also: Ikorodu kicks off building of 762km drainage

    Also,  in Seme Border, Badagry, Lagos, three Ghanaian ladies were arrested at the Gbaji Check point by their operatives while attempting to smuggle combined 4.8kilograms of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis into Nigeria. The suspects arrested include Haziza Zubairu, 42; Samirat Mustapha, 43; and Jamila Salifu, 26.

    “In Kano, a 60-year-old grandma Safiya Shamsu was on Friday 25th April nabbed at Samegu area of Kumbotso Local Government Area with 5.6kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, while another suspect Muntari Labaran, 35, was taken into custody following the seizure of 100 litres of codeine syrup from him at Yelwa area of Dala Local Government Area,’’ he added.

    “A total of 3,814.9kg skunk was destroyed on two farms in Ugbodu community,  Ovia Northeast LGA, Edo state on Thursday 24th April when NDLEA operatives raided the plantations where three suspects: Samuel Samson, 26; Daniel Peter, 20; and Abel Edah, 31, were arrested,’’ he added.

    Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd). praised the operatives for their efforts.

  • NDLEA raids Lagos hotel, recovers N1.042 billion illicit drug consignments

    NDLEA raids Lagos hotel, recovers N1.042 billion illicit drug consignments

    …intercepts over two million pills of tramadol in Kano, Jigawa; another Saudi-bound cocaine in body cream

    …arrests three Ghanaian ladies for cross-border trafficking

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has raided a new 80-room hotel in Victoria Island Lagos used as cover for distributing illicit substances and after hours of combing the rooms recovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis with a total weight of 417.3 kilograms worth ₦1,042,500,000 in street value.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said at least three suspects: Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh were arrested in the course of the operation at the five-storey hotel building between Friday, 25th and Saturday, 26th April 2025.

    Babafemi said two other suspects, Noble Philip and his partner Kenneth, are currently at large.

    The statement reads, “Items suspected to be proceeds of illicit drug trade recovered from the premises housing The Hook Hotel also known as Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge located at 16 Waziri Ibrahim street, off Elsie Femi Pearse street, Victoria Island, Lagos, include: Toyota Prado Landcruiser Jeep (Lagos AKD 472 OZ); Toyota Sienna Vehicle (Lagos KJA 79 HJ); Volkswagen Delivery Van (Lagos AAA 525 JE); Kia Ceranto Car (Lagos BDG 860 GQ); Grand Caravan Dodge (Lagos APP 847 YF); 74 new TV sets; 10 used TV sets; and 13 refrigerators, among others.”

    Babafemi said in another major interdiction in Jigawa state with a follow up operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence on Wednesday 23rd April seized consignments of opioids being moved from Kano to Niger Republic and Yobe state through Jigawa.

    He said the psychoactive substances were being moved in a Toyota Sienna vehicle marked ABJ 182 NW at about 2:30 am on Wednesday along Kano- Ringim road, Gumel town, when anti-narcotic officers on patrol intercepted them with two suspects: Abba Ibrahim, 28, and Shuaibu Umar, 29, arrested.

    Babafemi said, “Recovered from the Sienna vehicle were 200,000 pills of tramadol 250mg and 217,500 capsules of pregabalin. A swift follow up operation in Kano led to the arrest of the supplier, 41-year-old Jamilu Muhammad, at his residence located at Mil Tara, Layin Technical area of Kano while additional 1,584,000 pills of tramadol 250mg stacked inside a Nissan 18-seater bus marked DAL 372 XA and a room in his house were discovered and evacuated. This brings the total number of recovered opioids to 2,001,500 pills.

    “Barely a week after NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) uncovered 20 parcels of cocaine concealed inside religious books going to Saudi Arabia at a logistics company in Lagos, the operatives have again intercepted another shipment of 46 wraps of cocaine weighing 547grams hidden in body cream going to the Middle East country. The seizure was made on Wednesday, 23rd April, at a courier firm in Lagos. Another consignment intercepted same day includes: 1.8kg pentazocine injection and 60 grams bromazepam tablets heading to Canada.

    “At the Seme border area of Badagry, Lagos, three Ghanaian ladies were on Sunday, 20th April, arrested at the Gbaji checkpoint by NDLEA operatives while attempting to smuggle a combined 4.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, into Nigeria. The suspects arrested include: Haziza Zubairu, 42; Samirat Mustapha, 43; and Jamila Salifu, 26.

    “In Kano, a 60-year-old grandma, Safiya Shamsu, was nabbed on Friday, 25th April nabbed at Samegu area of Kumbotso LGA with 5.6kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, while another suspect, Muntari Labaran, 35, was taken into custody following the seizure of 100 litres of codeine syrup from him at Yelwa area of Dala LGA.

    “A total of 3,814.9kg of skunk was destroyed on two farms in Ugbodu community, Ovia North East LGA, Edo state on Thursday, 24th April, when NDLEA operatives raided the plantations where three suspects: Samuel Samson, 26; Daniel Peter, 20; and Abel Edah, 31, were arrested.

    “The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture delivered to students and staff of Dan-Doro Community Arabic Secondary School, Doro, Katsina; St. James Anglican School, Badariya, Kebbi; Federal Government Girls College, Tambuwal, Sokoto; and members of Oganiru age grade, Onitsha, Anambra, while the Lagos State Strategic Command of NDLEA paid WADA advocacy visit to the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, HRM Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, among others.

    “While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Lagos, Kano, Jigawa, Edo, and Seme Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.”

  • NDLEA, NAPTIP set up teams to strengthen collaboration against drug, human trafficking

    NDLEA, NAPTIP set up teams to strengthen collaboration against drug, human trafficking

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have set up teams on both sides to strengthen collaboration on the fight against the interconnected menace of human and drug trafficking as well as substance abuse.

    Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Friday.

    According to the statement, the fresh effort was the highpoint of discussions between the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) and the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Lami Adamu Bello when the latter led her management team on a courtesy visit to Marwa at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

    Marwa congratulated Adamu Bello on her well-deserved appointment to lead a very important agency like NAPTIP and commended her for hitting the ground running. 

    He said, “There’s a linkage between human trafficking and drug trafficking and abuse. Some trafficked persons are used as mules, some may know, some may not know, they may give them drugs, sewn into their bag, and they can be drugged to be compliant, to do what they want. 

    “So, this is an area that we should collaborate further by signing an MoU that will actually bring about definite and unambiguous areas of collaboration.”

    He assured her of NDLEA’s preparedness to deepen collaboration with NAPTIP while he named a three-member liaison team that will work with the team from NAPTIP on agreed areas of partnership.

    Read Also: Why NDLEA seeks drug test for corps members, others – Marwa

    Speaking earlier, the NAPTIP boss emphasised the importance of deepened partnership between the two agencies to the disruption of criminal networks involved in human and drug trafficking as well as substance abuse. 

    “Drug trafficking and human trafficking are increasingly connected, both globally and locally. Women and children are used as drug couriers. Victims are also drugged and subjected to substance abuse as a method of control when they are trafficked.

    “Furthermore, both crimes thrive on similar enablers, that is, porous borders, corruption, poverty, weak institutions, and digital space. Intelligence reports have shown overlaps in networks operating in both spheres, hence the urgent need for a coordinated response. We believe that there is immense potential for deepened collaboration between NAPTIP and NDLEA.

    “Some actionable areas could include joint investigation and intelligence sharing, capacity building and cross-training, victim-centered approach, technology and data integration, public enlightenment and preventive advocacy, and legal reforms. 

    “And this could be achieved, by our proposal of the next steps to be taken, that is, setting up of a liaison team to develop NAPTIP-NDLEA strategic action plan for the short to medium term activities, schedule bilateral meetings to review our operation partnership at least once or twice a year, and explore opportunities for international collaboration, which we are all aware that the two agencies are closely partnering with various international organizations.

    “I want to affirm that NAPTIP is fully committed to partnership, professionalism, and patriotic service. We believe that together we will not only disrupt criminal networks, but also protect and empower vulnerable Nigerians who are often the ultimate victims of these crimes”, she said.

  • NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books

    NDLEA intercepts cocaine in Saudi-bound religious books

    • Bandits’ supplier with drugs in private part arrested
    • 563kg skunk, meth, heroin recovered in Bayelsa warehouse, four nabbed
    • Cannabis farms in Edo forest destroyed

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a shipment of cocaine concealed in 20 sets of religious books going to Saudi Arabia.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday said the consignment, consisting of 20 parcels weighing 500grams, was buried in the pages of the religious books.

    It was uncovered at a courier company in Lagos on April 15 by the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) searching export cargos billed for Saudi Arabia at the logistics firm.

    Babafemi said at another courier company the same day, their officers intercepted five parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 2.8 kilograms in a carton coming from the United States.

    The spokesman said in Kano, a 22-year-old supplier of illicit substances to bandits, Muhammad Mohammed, was been arrested by their operatives on patrol on the Bichi-Kano Road while heading to Katsina with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection tied to his thigh and private part with cellotape.

    Read Also: Advertising tribunal issues bench warrant against Aero Contractors’ boss, Sanusi

    Babafemi said the suspect was intercepted on April 13, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was nabbed the same day at Research Rimin Kebe, Nasarawa, Kano with 68 blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 30kg.

    The statement reads: “Not less than 557.2kg of skunk, 5.6kg of methamphetamine and 29.8grams of heroin were recovered from a house along Major-General Isaiah Allison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State where four suspects were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided the premises on Wednesday 16th April. The four suspects arrested during the raid include: Sarimiye Suwa Kurtis, 46; Roland Prosper, 34; Sarimiye Tare Paul, 45; and Fidelis Ugbesla, 46.

    “While a total of 1,100 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a delivery van with the driver, Ismail Abdullahi arrested in Surulere area of Lagos on Thursday, 17th April, NDLEA operatives in Kaduna on Friday 18th April raided the hideout of a suspect, Ike Ani, 30, in Zaria, where no fewer than 31,950 pills of tramadol 225mg and diazepam were recovered.

    “In Kebbi, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bagudo road on Friday, 18th April intercepted a vehicle loaded with bags of charcoal coming from Malabil, Benin Republic. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 97kg skunk concealed in the sacks of charcoal. Three suspects: Abubakar Ibrahim, 50; Mustapha  Aliyu, 32; and Bashar Lawali, 28, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

    “A 48-year-old Okafor Marcel was nabbed with 11.5kg skunk at Abatete, Anambra state while NDLEA operatives in Osogbo, Osun state on Tuesday 15th April arrested Ajala Mercy, 27, with 43 litres of skushi, a mixture of black currant, cannabis and opioids recovered from her room at Dada estate, Halleluyah area of the state capital.’’