• 70-year-old man, kingpins arrested as massive consignments of opioids, cannabis and other illicit drugs seized across seven states

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 48-year-old Lagos-based businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, who allegedly liquidated his assets to finance a cocaine deal, as the agency recorded major drug seizures and arrests across Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta states.

Nwankwo, a marble dealer, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.

A search of his check-in luggage revealed 1.550 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the walls and railings of the bag.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise ₦23 million to purchase the consignment, hoping to sell it in India for as much as ₦100 million.

In another major operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in a residential compound at Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace, Okota, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at more than ₦2.6 billion.

The seizure was made between Friday, August 7, and Saturday, August 8, 2026.

Similarly, operatives raided the residence of a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, at Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Lagos, recovering 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at approximately ₦972 million.

Two vehicles—a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla—were also recovered from the suspect.

Massive opioid seizures in Kwara and Oyo

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at Kam Wire, Ilorin, with 55.96kg of skunk concealed in a truck.

In Oyo State, a 70-year-old suspect, Abdulfatai Oyelaran, and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

A search of their Toyota Sienna yielded 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.

Delta, Plateau record huge seizures

Along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway in Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, recovering 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of Rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 ampoules of tramadol.

Another suspect, 50-year-old Emeka Tony, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and ₦8 million in cash.

In Plateau State, operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Kano operation uncovers cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids

Six suspects—Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39—were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road.

Recovered from them were 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

In a separate operation at Zawaciki Gida Dubu, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, NDLEA operatives recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg and arrested two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24.

Edo cannabis farms destroyed

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775kg of skunk cultivated on two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke Forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested at one of the farms.

Another suspect, 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City, where 25.857kg of Loud and 93 grams of methamphetamine were recovered.

NDLEA sustains anti-drug advocacy

Beyond drug supply reduction, the agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across the country.

Among the activities were sensitisation lectures delivered to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos.

Commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands for their efforts, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised personnel across the country for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction.

The latest operations underscore the agency’s intensified campaign against the trafficking and distribution of cocaine, cannabis, opioids, methamphetamine and other illicit substances across Nigeria.