The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking, apprehending a long-wanted kingpin and seizing large volumes of illicit drugs in coordinated operations across several states.
Speaking on Sunday, July 20, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that operatives arrested 60-year-old Okpara Paul Chigozie, a major drug cartel leader who had been on the agency’s wanted list since 2019.
He was arrested at his hideout in the Isheri area of Lagos after one of his couriers was intercepted in the early hours of July 13 on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
The courier, driving a Toyota Sienna vehicle, was found with 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine concealed in secret compartments.
A subsequent raid at Chigozie’s residence uncovered an additional 1.8 kilograms of cocaine and 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives in collaboration with Aviation Security officers arrested a passenger, Omoregie Uyiosa, who was en route to Italy on a Turkish Airlines flight.
Uyiosa was caught with 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol and reportedly confessed that he intended to sell the drugs abroad.
In another bust at the airport’s export shed, 17 parcels of cannabis hidden in cereal packs bound for Pakistan were intercepted.
The suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna, who attempted to ship the cargo, was taken into custody.
Further surveillance led NDLEA operatives to Sarah Sam Hotels on Ogudu Road in Kosofe, Lagos, believed to be a distribution hub for party drugs.
A raid on the facility on Saturday, July 19, resulted in the arrest of Obayemi Oyetade and the recovery of 1.3 kilograms of cannabis-infused chocolate, 900 grams of cannabis gummies, and 22.9 grams of skunk. Three vehicles were also seized during the operation.
In Kaduna, an intelligence-led operation at the Narayi High Cost area of Chikun Local Government Area led to the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of 742.8 kilograms of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic form of cannabis. Similar operations across other states also yielded major drug hauls. In Kano, NDLEA officers intercepted thousands of tramadol pills, while in Gombe, agents recovered large quantities of tramadol, Exol-5, and compressed skunk in separate arrests. In Borno State, over 74,000 pills of opioids were seized during a highway patrol in Maiduguri. In Bayelsa, a 63-year-old woman was apprehended in Yenagoa for possessing 163 litres of skuchies, a locally brewed cocktail of illicit substances. On the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State, operatives arrested four men in possession of methamphetamine. A major raid in Aba, Abia State, also led to the discovery of tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and over ₦700,000 in cash.
“These operations demonstrate our resolve to rid Nigeria of hard drugs and dismantle criminal syndicates responsible for distributing them,” Babafemi stated. He emphasized that all actions were based on credible intelligence and form part of a sustained nationwide effort to disrupt drug networks.
The NDLEA urged members of the public to continue providing useful information that could assist in ongoing efforts to combat the menace of drug trafficking and abuse across the country.
