How NDLEA Seized N3.4bn Drugs In Lagos, PH, Arrested Kingpin (+PHOTOS)

---

NO fewer than 3.5 million pills of opioids and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup, with a combined street value of over ₦3.428 billion, were intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Lagos State.

The bulk of the seizures—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, Nigeria Customs Service personnel, and other security agencies at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne.

In Lagos, a total of 1.5 million pills of a controlled opioid were recovered from a suspect, Olarenwaju Wahab, at the Alaba-Rago area of Ojo on the same day. The source of the consignment was traced to Q104B Road 25, Victoria Garden City, Lekki, the residence of one Obinna Kenneth, who is now at large.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted 42 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 20kg. The drugs were concealed in tins of chocolate, Milo beverage, white kidney beans, and dark red kidney beans, and arrived as part of cargo on a British Airways flight from Canada. At least three suspects, including the receiver of the consignment, Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, were arrested between Wednesday, 30th April and Saturday, 3rd May.

Similarly, businessman Bobby Morris Osas was arrested on Friday, 2nd May 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, 200mg, and 100mg).

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 from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI).

In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway on Saturday, 3rd May intercepted a commercial vehicle coming from Nasarawa State and heading to Zamfara State. A search of the vehicle uncovered 942 explosives concealed in a sack, leading to the arrest of a 30-year-old suspect, Nura Sani Muhammad (alias Nura Hariji).

The NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has directed that the suspect and the explosives be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further action.

Five members of a syndicate led by Aminu Musa (alias Kadagi) were arrested on Wednesday, 30th April at Dangoro Market, Kano. Operatives recovered 50 blocks of skunk weighing 21.6kg from them.

In Edo State, operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a white Toyota bus on Thursday, 1st May at Uromi, Esan North-East. The vehicle was conveying assorted opioids from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Auchi. Recovered items included 314,020 pills of tramadol, rophynol, diazepam, and exol5; 638 bottles of codeine syrup; and 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection. A suspect, Dare Adeyemo, was taken into custody.

A Mazda commercial bus (registration number XA343TSE) was also intercepted on Wednesday, 30th April at Agu-Awka Junction, Awka, Anambra State. Recovered from the vehicle were 50,400 capsules of tramadol, 500 tablets of co-codamol, and 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection. A suspect, Chinedu Eneh, was arrested.

In Niger State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Kontagora–Mokwa Road on Saturday, 3rd May intercepted a Mitsubishi Canter truck (registration number 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, and the arrest of 30-year-old Yusuf Abubakar.

After a 10-month investigation, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 26th April arrested a wanted drug kingpin, Dominic Chiegozie Obijiaku, 52, the Managing Director of Ovidaq International Ltd. He was implicated in the importation of 2,616,060 pills of tramadol 225mg intercepted at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on 28th July 2024. A follow-up operation at his residence in Lekki led to the seizure of 51 wraps of Canadian Loud weighing 34 grams.

The NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued across the country during the week. Highlights included sensitisation lectures delivered to students and staff of Al-Istigama University, Kano, and Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina State, among others.

Commending the officers and men of DOGI, MMIA, Lagos, Kano, PHPC, Kaduna, Anambra, Edo, Niger and Apapa Commands for their achievements during the week, Gen. Marwa also praised all NDLEA Commands nationwide for maintaining a fair balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.