The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on illicit drugs, arresting two suspected kingpins in Lagos, intercepting suppliers to bandits and terrorists in the North-East, and destroying over 24,000 kilograms of cannabis plantations in Edo State.
According to a statement by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the coordinated operations carried out between September 11 and 27, 2025, also led to multiple arrests across states including Kano, Kaduna, Bayelsa, Lagos, Ekiti, and Abuja, with large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, cannabis, and opioids seized.
Lagos kingpins exposed
In Lagos, operatives of the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) arrested two alleged drug barons after weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering.
On September 17, officers stormed the Okota residence of 64-year-old Victor Nwosa, a man who had posed for years as a textile merchant. A search of his home yielded 4.33 kilograms of heroin and 448 grams of cocaine. Similarly, on September 11, 49-year-old Felix Chika Obiegbu, widely known as a wine distributor, was arrested at his Aguda, Surulere home, where 2.9 kilograms of methamphetamine were uncovered.
Supplies to terrorists intercepted
In the North-East, NDLEA operatives foiled attempts to ferry narcotics to insurgents and criminal gangs. On September 27 in Borno, 26-year-old Baba Kaka Ibrahim was arrested at Njimtilo village while driving a Mercedes Benz GLK towards Damaturu. A search of the vehicle revealed 39,380 pills of tramadol 225mg and exol-5 concealed in the engine compartment.
That same day, in Yobe State, 39 parcels of Colorado (a potent synthetic strain of cannabis) weighing 1.4kg were discovered hidden inside a woman’s travel bag. The suspect, Halima Adamu, was promptly arrested, and a follow-up raid in Maiduguri led to the arrest of another woman, Habiba Muhammad, linked to the consignment.
Multiple seizures across states
In Kano, NDLEA operatives intercepted two suspects — Aliyu Sani, 27, and Yahaya Tata, 26 — along Zaria-Kano road on September 27, recovering 30,030 pills of tramadol. Earlier, on September 22, three men were arrested at Swali jetty in Bayelsa with 12kg of skunk and 50 live cartridges.
In Ekiti, a 45-year-old ex-convict, Femi Owoeye, alias “Do Good,” was arrested on September 25 at his Ikere-Ekiti home with 32kg of skunk and tramadol. Owoeye had previously served three years in prison for drug trafficking in 2016.
In Kaduna, a major bust took place at the Abuja-Kaduna tollgate where 56-year-old Adedamola Olayeni was caught transporting 404 blocks of skunk, weighing 262.6kg, in a Honda Pilot jeep. Another suspect, Zubairu Haruna, 30, was arrested in Gwantu with 506 grams of methamphetamine, while a follow-up in Gombe led to the arrest of the intended receiver, 25-year-old Babangida Mohammed.
Other operations included the seizure of 85,100 pills of tramadol and opioids from three suspects in Apapa, Lagos; the arrest of 40-year-old Opeyemi Ogundipe in Abuja with 2.1kg of Colorado; and the arrest of two men in Edo transporting over a tonne of skunk hidden in bags of charcoal along the Wareke-Auchi road.
Edo cannabis farms destroyed
The NDLEA also achieved a major breakthrough in Edo State, where large cannabis farms were located and destroyed. On September 23, operatives raided Uromi forest in Esan West LGA, uprooting 12,115.6kg of cannabis from nearly five hectares of farmland. Two suspects were arrested, and 345.5kg of processed cannabis was seized.
A day later, another operation in Ogu forest, Igueben LGA, led to the destruction of 12,031kg of cannabis on 4.4 hectares, with 106kg of already processed substances evacuated.
NDLEA vows sustained crackdown
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers in the Special Operations Unit and across state commands for their efforts.
“The success of these operations underscores our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from illicit substances that threaten public health and national security,” Marwa said. “Every gram of these dangerous drugs we seize and remove from our streets and communities reinforces our determination to protect our youths, disrupt criminal networks, and strengthen national security.”
In addition to enforcement, Marwa noted that NDLEA commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities, with outreach programs in schools, worship centres, and communities across several states.