The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a major opioid trafficking network in Lagos, arresting a suspected drug baron, Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu, and five members of his syndicate. The operation led to the recovery of illicit drugs valued at over N6.7 billion from a covert warehouse located in a residential estate in Isolo.
In a statement on Wednesday, the NDLEA said the breakthrough followed credible intelligence indicating that the cartel was preparing to distribute over 7.2 million tramadol pills (225mg) and 526,200 bottles of codeine syrup ahead of the Christmas season. The drugs were stored inside a residential compound at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, Lagos.
A Special Operations Unit of the Agency launched a coordinated two-day raid between November 19 and 20. Two members of the syndicate — Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel — were first intercepted at Apple Junction, Festac, while conveying 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.
A follow-up raid on the warehouse the next day resulted in the arrest of Nwanagu and three other suspects: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
In total, operatives recovered 7,272,000 tramadol pills, valued at N3.96 billion, and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup, worth N2.76 billion. The seized substances were evacuated in eleven trucks to the NDLEA’s central exhibit facility in Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the operation as a “major blow” to criminal cartels targeting Nigerian youths.
“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement,” Marwa said. “The days when drug barons believed they were untouchable are over. The long arm of the law will reach every trafficker, no matter how highly placed or concealed.”
He lauded the professionalism of the Special Operations and Strike Force Units involved, noting that the seizure prevented a massive quantity of illicit drugs from worsening addiction, crime, and insecurity across the country.
The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.