NDLEA SMASHES SIX DRUG SYNDICATES, SEIZES CONSIGNMENTS HIDDEN IN MACHINE CYLINDERS, AUTO PARTS AT LAGOS AIRPORT

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking organisations (DTOs), dismantling at least six syndicates and arresting nine high-profile drug kingpins in a series of coordinated, intelligence-driven operations.

In one of the major breakthroughs, operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja-Lagos, intercepted consignments of methamphetamine and cocaine concealed inside industrial pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa. The shipment, which arrived on 13th November 2025 aboard a Tag-Angola flight with airway bill number 118-12882973, was tracked to Onitsha, Anambra State.

On Tuesday, 18th November 2025, NDLEA officers arrested two suspected traffickers in Onitsha:

Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, 30, an electrical appliances dealer, and

Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, 51, a South Africa returnee.

The consignment included 5.40kg methamphetamine, 10.70kg Loud (a potent strain of cannabis), 16g cocaine, and other illicit substances including phenacetin, methcathinone, and caffeine.

In another operation at Lagos airport on 20th November, operatives intercepted a brake servo automobile part used to conceal 48 pellets and a block of cocaine weighing 2.30kg, destined for Gabon. A freight agent, Ameh Solomon, and auto parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface were arrested.

Kogi State (17th Nov): 4,700kg of skunk seized from a trailer; three suspects arrested. A follow-up operation in Jos on 21st November led to the arrest of the alleged owner, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu.

Cross River (19th Nov): Couple Onun Okoi Okpotum (55) and Itam Okoi Okpotum (52) arrested; 4,706kg of skunk recovered.

Edo (22nd Nov): Two young women, Praise Nwogu (19) and Ebong Emem Oghosa (25), arrested for producing and marketing drug-laced brownies online.

Additional 59kg skunk recovered from Shedrack Aminu during a raid in Ososo village, Akoko Edo.

Enugu (19th Nov): NDLEA intercepted 10.1kg skunk, 105,600 tramadol pills, 700 pentazocine ampoules, and 3,000 rounds of live ammunition.

Kebbi: 13,155 bottles of codeine syrup evacuated from a warehouse; Umar Adamu (23) arrested with 12,548 pills concealed in paracetamol containers en route to a Boko Haram enclave.

FCT & Niger: Three suspects arrested with 430.5kg skunk, 85,100 opioid pills, and 5,456 bottles of codeine syrup.

Lagos raids (17–18 Nov): Seizure of 71kg Canadian Loud, 2.6kg Colorado hidden in branded containers and flight boarding passes, and 385kg of various strains of cannabis at Lagos Island drug enclave.

163,200 tramadol capsules recovered in Maza Maza motor park.

NDLEA also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation efforts in schools, churches, workplaces, and communities across Lagos, Oyo, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Enugu, and Ogun State.

Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the operatives involved and warned that traffickers often exploit festive periods to expand illegal operations.

“Drug cartels may attempt to increase their illegal activities during the holiday period. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard,” Marwa declared.

He urged officers to maintain a “balanced and relentless approach” to drug control and public enlightenment.

The agency has vowed to sustain the momentum of the nationwide offensive to cripple drug syndicates ahead of the yuletide season.