The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking, arresting several suspects—including two elderly men aged 83 and 78—and seizing large quantities of banned substances across multiple states.
In Abia State, NDLEA operatives arrested 83-year-old Pa John Ofiel during a raid at Samek area in Aba, where 700 grams of skunk packaged in retail sachets were recovered. The suspect reportedly told investigators he was previously a shoemaker before venturing into the drug trade.
Similarly, in Ekiti State, a 78-year-old suspect, Ogunjobi Samuel, was apprehended at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti. Officers recovered 350 grams of skunk from him at the time of arrest.
In Oyo State, two women—Rebecca King, 24, and Olaniyan Opeyemi, 31—were arrested in connection with the seizure of 1.925 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis. King was intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, while Opeyemi was later arrested in Ibadan while attempting to receive the consignment.
NDLEA operatives also arrested a wanted drug dealer, Taofik Adeyemi, in Ibadan after months on the run. He was apprehended alongside his associate, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085 kilograms of skunk and a Toyota Camry recovered from his residence. Two of his accomplices had earlier been arrested in December 2025 and are currently facing prosecution.
In Osun State, a 65-year-old driver, Oladayo Awoyemi, was arrested at Ile-Ife toll gate while transporting 7 kilograms of skunk and 15 grams of methamphetamine. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Ifedayo Babalola.
In Borno State, NDLEA officers intercepted 76,440 tramadol pills from a suspect along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road. Additional operations led to the seizure of 14,000 tramadol capsules and the arrest of two more suspects linked to the consignment.
In Kaduna State, operatives recovered 290 kilograms of compressed skunk concealed in a vehicle along the Abuja-Jos highway, leading to the arrest of two suspects. Similarly, in Jigawa State, nearly 50,000 tramadol capsules were seized from another set of suspects.
In Lagos State, a raid at Awolowo Market in Mushin resulted in the recovery of 740 kilograms of skunk. Meanwhile, in Edo State, a suspect was arrested in Benin City with assorted drugs, including cannabis, tramadol, methamphetamine, and other substances.
Beyond enforcement, the agency sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools, workplaces, religious centres, and communities nationwide.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across Abia, Ekiti, Edo, Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Oyo, Osun, and Lagos commands for their efforts, urging them to maintain the momentum in reducing both drug supply and demand across the country.