Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have dismantled a major drug trafficking network in Lagos, arresting six suspects and seizing opioid consignments valued at more than N6.7 billion.
The agency confirmed that the operation, conducted by its Special Operations Unit between November 19 and 20, uncovered a massive warehouse used for storing tramadol and codeine syrup in the Isolo area of the state.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said intelligence reports indicated that the syndicate was preparing to distribute the drugs ahead of the Christmas period.
“Credible intelligence revealed that the group had stocked over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and more than 526,000 bottles of codeine syrup in a residential premises at Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri,” Babafemi stated.
According to him, two members of the network, Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, were intercepted on November 19 at Apple Junction, Festac, while allegedly transporting 300 cartons of the substances in a truck.
A follow-up operation the next day led operatives to the warehouse, where the suspected kingpin, Onyekachi Nwanagu, and three others—Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Philip—were arrested.
The NDLEA said the drugs recovered include 7,272,000 tramadol pills estimated at N3.96bn, and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup valued at N2.76bn.
The total haul was evacuated from the estate in 11 trucks and moved to the agency’s central exhibit facility.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the officers for the coordinated operation, describing it as a “major blow to criminal drug networks”.
“This seizure prevented dangerous substances that could worsen addiction and insecurity across the country from reaching the streets. Our operations will continue to target drug barons and their financiers,” Marwa said.
The agency has intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates in the run-up to the festive season.
Earlier reports indicated that a woman, Oluchi Celestine, was arrested in Lekki on November 18 with 2.6 kilogrammes of Colorado, some hidden in branded packs and flight boarding passes.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to tracking and dismantling high-profile drug rings across Nigeria.
