 have intercepted a massive haul of illicit drugs valued at over N6.5 billion){kind=link}
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a massive haul of illicit drugs valued at over N6.5 billion at key Nigerian ports and other locations across the country.
At the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers State, and the Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers seized no fewer than six million opioid pills—including Tamol 225mg, Tapentadol 225mg, and Carisoprodol 225mg—alongside 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
The combined estimated street value of these narcotics stands at approximately N6,524,000,000. The seizures followed intelligence reports tracking new trafficking routes exploited by drug cartels to smuggle illicit substances into Nigeria, prompting the agency to flag containers for 100% thorough inspection.
According to a statement issued by NDLEA Spokesman Femi Babajide on Sunday, the Port Harcourt seizures consisted of six million opioid pills and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup uncovered in two separate containers during joint examinations with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on May 19 and 20, 2025. Meanwhile, at the Apapa port, 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered during a similar operation on May 22.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives arrested two British nationals, Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, along with two Nigerians, Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami, for attempting to smuggle 92 bags of “Loud”—a potent cannabis strain weighing 51.10 kg—into Nigeria via Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
Alexander was apprehended after arriving on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on May 15, based on prior intelligence. Despite passing security controls, he was closely monitored by NDLEA officers to the airport car park, where Adejuwon, a Nigerian-British national, awaited alongside Imole and Ayobami in an SUV to receive the drugs.
The operatives arrested them as they attempted to exit the airport with the narcotics. Alexander confessed to being recruited weeks earlier during a vacation and promised £1,300 for successful delivery. Adejuwon admitted arriving in Nigeria a day earlier from South Africa via Ghana.
A follow-up raid on their Lekki apartment uncovered additional evidence, including N3,810,500 in cash, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four canisters of laughing gas (nitrous oxide). At the time of arrest, Adejuwon also had N93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand on his person.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives destroyed a total of 75,000 kilograms of skunk cannabis across several states. On May 22, 200 kg was recovered and destroyed at Esuk-Odot village in Odukpani LGA, Cross River State. On May 23 and 24, a combined 1,957.5 kg of skunk were destroyed at Ohosu forest in Ovia South West LGA and Okhuse community forest in Owan West LGA, Edo State.
In Nasarawa State, two suspects—Sunday Daniel (51) and Abu Peter (30)—were arrested on May 24 in Keffi with 4,000 kg of skunk hidden beneath unprocessed wood in their lorry. Another suspect, Godwin Obi (39), was arrested in Karu on May 21 with 154.5 kg of the same substance.
NDLEA also intercepted 57,750 tramadol and diazepam pills from 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway at Gwargwaje on May 21. On the same day, 45 kg of skunk divided into 80 blocks was seized from 45-year-old Usman Muhammad along the Bauchi-Misau road.
In Yobe State, operatives arrested 29-year-old Adum Muhammed smuggling 2 kg of Colorado cannabis into the Republic of Chad through the Ngamboru Ngala border in Borno State.
Niger State officers intercepted a Mercedes Benz loaded with 97 kg of compressed cannabis sativa on May 22 along the Mokwa-Jebba road, arresting Adams Ayibakro.
Lagos operations included a raid in the Osapa London area of Lekki where suspect Jonathan Isa was arrested with various illicit substances including cocaine, methamphetamine, molly, rohypnol, codeine, cannabis, and nitrous oxide. Another raid at Idasun, Eleko, Ibeju Lekki on May 24 led to the arrest of Olamilekan Idowu and seizure of 48 kg of skunk cannabis.
Additionally, the NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continued across the country with sensitization lectures delivered to students and staff in multiple schools including Adamu Babbale Government Secondary School (Katsina), Mary Hanney Secondary School (Akwa Ibom), Nnodo Secondary School (Ebonyi), Government Secondary School Guyuk (Adamawa), and Government Girls Islamic Secondary School (Kano). The Lagos State command also paid an advocacy visit to the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Muhammadu Bambado.
Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended officers from PHPC, MMIA, Apapa, Nasarawa, Cross River, Edo, Lagos, Niger, Kaduna, Yobe, and Bauchi Commands for their outstanding performance in seizures and arrests. He praised all commands nationwide for maintaining a balanced approach between reducing drug supply and demand.