The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of at least 10 suspects during a series of recent anti-narcotic operations across the country, including a major breakthrough involving a suspected supplier of drugs to criminal bandits.
According to a statement by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, a 22-year-old man identified as Muhammad Mohammed was apprehended in Kano while attempting to transport drugs to Katsina. NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Bichi-Kano Road became suspicious and stopped him. Upon search, they discovered 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection strapped to his thigh and private area using Sellotape.
Another suspect, 43-year-old Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, was also arrested the same day in the Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano, with 68 blocks of skunk (a potent strain of cannabis) weighing 30 kilograms.
In Bayelsa State, a major drug den was busted on April 16 when NDLEA officers raided a house on Major General Isaiah Allison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa. The operation led to the seizure of 557.2kg of skunk, 5.6kg of methamphetamine, and 29.8 grammes of heroin. Four suspects—Sarimiye Suwa Kurtis (46), Roland Prosper (34), Sarimiye Tare Paul (45), and Fidelis Ugbesla (46)—were arrested at the scene.
In Lagos, a delivery van carrying approximately 1,100kg of skunk was intercepted and the driver arrested. Meanwhile, operatives in Kaduna apprehended one Ike Ani at a hideout with 31,950 pills of Tramadol (225mg) and Diazepam.
The agency also reported the seizure of 97kg of skunk concealed in sacks of charcoal in Kebbi State. Three suspects—Abubakar Ibrahim (50), Mustapha Aliyu (32), and Bashar Lawali (28)—were arrested in connection with the find.
In Anambra, a 48-year-old man, Okafor Marcel, was caught with 11.5kg of skunk in Abatete, while in Osun State, operatives arrested 27-year-old Ajala Mercy at her residence in Dada Estate, Osogbo, where 43 litres of skushi (a cocktail of blackcurrant, cannabis, and opioids) were recovered.
NDLEA officers also uncovered and destroyed two large cannabis farms hidden within Egbeta Forest in Edo State. The farms spanned approximately 1.5 hectares and yielded 3,717.86kg of psychoactive plants, along with 136.5kg of processed cannabis.
At Lagos’ Tincan seaport, a long-sought suspect, Basorun Usman Kayode (40), was finally arrested in connection with the 2023 seizure of 107kg of Loud (a potent cannabis variant) smuggled in from Canada. Another suspect, Dauda Yakubu, was arrested for distributing illegal drugs within the seaport area.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers intercepted 500 grammes of cocaine cleverly hidden inside 20 religious books. The shipment, intended for Saudi Arabia, was discovered at a courier company in Lagos on April 15. That same day, another courier facility in the city was found to be handling five parcels of Loud cannabis, weighing 2.8kg, concealed in a carton sent from the United States.