In a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s war against narcotics, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a wanted drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, who had been on the run for seven years. The 60-year-old suspect was apprehended at his hideout in the Isheri area of Lagos on Sunday, July 13, 2025, following the seizure of hard drugs en route to Anambra State.
NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a white Toyota Sienna van at Ilasamaja along the Apapa-Oshodi expressway around 5:45 a.m. the same day. A search of the vehicle with the aid of sniffer dogs led to the discovery of 7.6kg of cocaine and 900g of methamphetamine. The courier, 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, was arrested at the scene.
A swift follow-up raid on Okpara’s residence at 72 Michael Ojo Street, Isheri, yielded additional seizures: 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine.
Airport Drug Intercepts, Hotel Raids, and Export Smuggling
In another string of operations, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in collaboration with Aviation Security personnel, recovered 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from the luggage of Omoregie Nice Uyiosa, an Italy-bound passenger who confessed his intent to resell the drugs in Europe.
At the airport’s export shed, officials also intercepted 17 parcels of skunk (1.7kg), hidden in packs of Golden Morn cereal and destined for Pakistan. The suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna, who presented the cargo for shipment, was taken into custody.
On July 19, operatives stormed Sarah Sam Hotels in Kosofe, Lagos, where a major party drug distribution hub was uncovered. The target, Obayemi Oyetade, was found in possession of 1.3kg of chocolate cannabis, 900g of gummies, and 22.9g of skunk. Three vehicles were also seized.
Nationwide Raids Yield Massive Seizures
Across the country, NDLEA intensified its crackdown on drug traffickers:
- Kaduna: Three suspects arrested at Narayi High Cost area with 742.8kg of skunk and synthetic cannabis (Colorado).
- Kano: Lawan Rabiu caught with 36,000 tramadol pills on Danbatta-Kazaure road.
- Gombe: 25,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 recovered from Aliyu Abubakar. Separately, 29kg of skunk seized from Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris.
- Borno: 74,360 opioid pills confiscated from Audu Modu in Maiduguri.
- Bayelsa: 63-year-old grandmother, Akuna Nelson, arrested with 163 litres of illicit “skuchies” in Yenagoa.
- Kogi: Four men arrested on the Okene-Lokoja highway with 2kg of methamphetamine.
- Abia: A raid on Nduka Obi’s base in Aba uncovered multiple drugs and N736,000 in cash.
- Enugu: 45,000 tramadol pills seized from Chisom Okpalaeke.
- Taraba: Two suspects caught with 10,000 tramadol capsules and cannabis at Dan Anacha, Gassol LGA.
Massive Drug Destruction in Osun Forest
In Osun State, the NDLEA also destroyed 101,150kg of skunk discovered in a remote forest location, as part of its continued effort to disrupt illicit cannabis cultivation.
Ongoing Advocacy Through WADA Campaign
The NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) continued its sensitization drive with lectures in schools across Niger, Adamawa, Enugu, Anambra, and Kano states, targeting students, educators, and local communities.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s operatives in Lagos, MMIA, Kaduna, Osun, Bayelsa, Borno, Gombe, Abia, Kogi, Enugu, and Taraba for their remarkable efforts. He praised their “balanced focus on both supply and demand reduction” and urged sustained momentum in the fight against drug trafficking.