The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a series of major drug-related arrests and seizures across Nigeria, including the apprehension of two octogenarians, an HND student, and the interception of illicit opioids valued at over N3.2 billion at Lagos and Port Harcourt ports.
Topping the list of suspects is 80-year-old ex-convict Ayuba Ashiru, arrested again on Wednesday, 14th May 2025, at Barazana Street, Dogarawa, Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna State. Ashiru, who had previously served a 10-year sentence for drug trafficking (2014–2024), was found with 2.3 kilograms of skunk packaged for retail. He confessed to being in the drug trade for 46 years.
In a related operation in Abia State on Saturday, 17th May, NDLEA operatives raided the home of 82-year-old Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday in Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village. There, they uncovered methamphetamine, tramadol, skunk, and N130,600 in cash. Her daughter, Chisom Uchechi (32), was also arrested. The elderly woman admitted they took over the drug trade after her son, the original dealer, died two years ago.
At the Onne Port in Rivers State, officers intercepted a shipment of three million pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol Royal 225mg with an estimated street value of N2.1 billion during a joint examination on Wednesday, 14th May. Similarly, a container at Apapa Seaport in Lagos, falsely declared as containing new car parts from India, was found on Tuesday, 13th May to hold 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup worth over N1.1 billion.
In Kwara State, 199,200 tramadol pills were recovered from suspects Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail on Friday, 16th May. That same day, a raid at Favour Lodge in Ilorin led to the arrest of Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef, an HND1 Laboratory Science Technology student at Kwara State Polytechnic. He was caught with 650 grams of Loud (a potent cannabis strain) divided into 149 cups for sale to fellow students.
At a Lagos courier company, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted 250 grams of cocaine concealed inside female headgear destined for Australia.
More seizures were recorded across the country:
In Niger State, 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143 kg were discovered in a Toyota Carina; 14.3 kg of Loud was also seized.
In Nasarawa, 594.8 kg of skunk was recovered from Welman Kengbo.
Along Lekki-Epe expressway, Lagos, Oyenuga Toheeb was arrested with 67.5 kg of cannabis.
In Taraba, 5,350 pills of tramadol and diazepam were seized from 22-year-old Shafiu Ismail.
In Jigawa, 198 kg of skunk was found with Tijjani Mohammed.
On Abuja-Kaduna highway, 29-year-old Ismail Isah was caught smuggling an AK-47 rifle and two magazines hidden in a sack of maize.
As part of its ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, the NDLEA also conducted sensitization lectures in schools across Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Osun, and Rivers states to educate students and staff on the dangers of drug use and trafficking.
NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the agency’s officers across the country for their continued commitment to both drug supply reduction and demand reduction strategies, commending their work during the past week.