The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered sophisticated drug trafficking networks across Nigeria, intercepting narcotics concealed in household items and arresting a long-sought kingpin in a major breakthrough.
At Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport, NDLEA operatives on July 7 discovered 11.3kg of potent cannabis strain “loud” hidden inside microwaves imported from Thailand via Ethiopia. One suspect, Ezenwegbu Chike, was arrested.
In a separate operation, officers intercepted 400 grams of cocaine and cutting agents cleverly built into lipstick tubes within a shipment bound for Guinea, concealed among beauty products. Businessman Ezeikwelume Prince Afam was apprehended at Lagos’ Trade Fair Complex in connection with the seizure.
The agency scored a major victory on July 9 with the arrest of Okechukwu Izugha (alias Okey Omeogo), a fugitive drug lord apprehended at his wife’s Ijesha Market shop in Lagos. Izugha had evaded capture since August 2024 when 9kg of cocaine was traced to him. His wife, Maureen Izugha, is currently serving a two-year prison term for cocaine possession.
Edo: NDLEA destroyed 28,000kg of cannabis across 11 hectares of forest farms in Owan West LGA, recovering 82kg of processed skunk. Operatives survived an armed ambush by cartel members during the operation.
Lagos: 700kg of Ghana Loud seized at Okun-Ajah Beach; two suspects arrested on Ajah-Epe expressway with 26kg cannabis, methamphetamine, and Molly.
Borno: 18,759 ampoules of prescription opioids recovered from Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi in Maiduguri; earlier seizure of 10,000 tramadol pills.
Gombe: Five arrests made with 116,226 pills of tramadol and D-5 confiscated.
Kogi/Kaduna/Taraba/Kano: Multiple seizures totaling over 950kg of cannabis and 577,890 opioid pills, including drugs hidden in a petrol tanker’s tyre compartment.
The agency’s War Against Drug Abuse initiative continued educational outreach in six states, targeting schools like Word of Promise High School, Calabar and Government Girls Arabic Senior Secondary School, Wudil.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended officers for their vigilance, stating: “These operations demonstrate our balanced approach – aggressively disrupting supply chains while intensifying demand reduction through community education.”