The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a suspected supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State and intercepted several consignments of narcotics concealed in everyday items.
The suspect, Mohammed Sani, also known as Gamboli, was arrested on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at Anguwan Fadama, Kuta, following weeks of intelligence-led tracking by NDLEA operatives.
According to a statement on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Sani had earlier escaped arrest during a raid on his residence at Anguwan Makera, Kuta, on November 20.
“Three weeks after escaping arrest at his residence in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits in the area, 33-year-old Mohammed Sani, alias Gamboli, has been apprehended by NDLEA operatives at his hideout,” Babafemi said.
He disclosed that during the earlier raid on the suspect’s house, operatives recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
“Following credible intelligence on his activities, our officers raided his house on November 20, where a total of 471.8kg of skunk was recovered. He, however, fled the scene,” Babafemi explained.
The NDLEA spokesman said further intelligence reports linked the suspect directly to the supply of illicit drugs to armed bandits operating in Shiroro Local Government Area.
“Acting on processed intelligence, NDLEA officers traced and arrested him on December 11 at one of his drug joints in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta. Intelligence reports indicate that Gamboli is a major supplier of illicit drugs to bandits in the area,” he added.
Babafemi also revealed that NDLEA operatives intercepted 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam concealed in containers of locally made black soap and designer clothing.
“No fewer than 907 pills of various controlled substances concealed in black soap containers and designer wear, in six consignments destined for the United States, Canada and Sweden, were intercepted at two courier companies in Lagos between December 9 and 10,” he said.
In other operations across the country, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives in Abia State dismantled a clandestine codeine syrup factory at Amapu Igbengwo village, Osisioma Local Government Area, where 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 1,152.2 kilograms were seized.
In Enugu State, he said two suspects were arrested along major highways with a combined total of over 100 kilograms of skunk, while in Oyo State, a raid on a notorious drug joint in Ido, Ibadan, led to the seizure of skunk, synthetic cannabis and methamphetamine.
“A raid at a drug joint known as ‘Beere the California’ resulted in the recovery of 3.4kg of skunk, 1.6kg of Colorado and 400 grams of methamphetamine. While the owner of the joint is at large, one suspect was arrested,” Babafemi said.
He added that further operations in Ibadan led to the arrest of a female suspect with 238.4 kilograms of skunk, while two other suspects were intercepted at the Gbaji checkpoint in Badagry, Lagos, with 50,000 pills of tramadol.
In Ondo State, NDLEA officers arrested a 55-year-old woman and her son in Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area, with over 1,187 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds, while in Edo State, another suspect was arrested with 461 kilograms of the same substance.
Babafemi said significant seizures were also recorded in Gombe State, where suspects were arrested with large quantities of tramadol capsules and skunk.
At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, he disclosed that NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, intercepted a container carrying 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579 kilograms on December 13.
Commending the officers involved in the nationwide operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged personnel to remain committed to the agency’s balanced approach of drug supply reduction and demand reduction.
He said, “Our officers must continue to sustain the momentum in ensuring that illicit drugs do not fuel crime, insecurity and public health challenges across the country.”
