ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide clampdown on major drug cartels, dismantling six syndicates and arresting nine suspected kingpins in a sweeping series of intelligence-driven operations across the country.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the details in a statement on Sunday, noting that the coordinated raids resulted in the seizure of massive quantities of drugs, including methamphetamine, cannabis strains, cocaine, tramadol, and codeine-based syrup.
According to the agency, two suspects were arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, after they arrived to collect a shipment containing 5.40kg of methamphetamine, 10.70kg of “Loud” cannabis, and 16 grams of cocaine.
The items had been shipped from South Africa through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, with an airway bill dated November 13.
READ ALSO: NDLEA Dismantles UK-Bound Cocaine Syndicate, Arrests Kingpin, Others
The first suspect, 30-year-old electronics trader Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, was apprehended at a logistics company in Onitsha. Shortly afterward, another member of the syndicate, 51-year-old returnee Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, was also arrested.
A follow-up sting operation confirmed both men as intended recipients of the illicit cargo.
At the Lagos airport, operatives intercepted a brake servo part stuffed with 48 pellets and a block of cocaine weighing 2.30kg en route to Gabon.
The freight agent, Ameh Solomon, was taken into custody, and a subsequent raid in the ASMPDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, led to the arrest of auto parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface.
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer transporting 4,700kg of skunk at Kabba on Monday, November 17. Three suspects Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba, and Daniel Danladi were detained.
A linked operation in Jos, Plateau State, later resulted in the arrest of the alleged cartel leader, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu.
A husband and wife, Onun Okoi Okpotum (55) and Itam Okoi Okpotum (52), were arrested in Cross River State after operatives stormed their warehouse on Park Road, Ugep Yakur LGA. The raid yielded 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4,706kg.
In Benin City, Edo State, two young women 19-year-old Praise Nwogu and 25-year-old Ebong Emem Oghosa were apprehended for producing and selling drug-laced brownies online.
Officers recovered multiple plates of the drug-infused snacks along with 76 grams of skunk and 1.5 grams of Colorado.
A separate raid in Ososo village, Akoko-Edo LGA, led to the arrest of 35-year-old Shedrack Aminu with 59kg of skunk in his possession.
In Enugu State, operatives intercepted 24-year-old Chinoso Emmanuel Monday along the Enugu–Onitsha expressway. He was found with 10.1kg of skunk, over 105,000 tramadol pills of varying strengths, 700 ampoules of pentazocine, and 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
In Kebbi State, authorities evacuated 13,155 bottles of codeine-based syrup from a warehouse in Dole-Kaina, Dandi LGA. Another suspect, 23-year-old Umar Adamu, was caught transporting over 12,500 pills disguised in paracetamol containers to a Boko Haram enclave in the Mino area of Borno State.
Two more suspects, Anthony Mercy (40) and Sunday Augustine (39), were arrested with 430.5kg of cannabis along the Abaji–Abuja expressway. Additionally, in Niger State, Samson Dafe, 47, was detained at Dikko Junction with 85,100 opioid pills and 5,456 bottles of codeine.
NDLEA personnel also raided the residence of Sani Mohammed in Shiroro LGA, Niger State, where they recovered 437 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 471.8kg.
READ ALSO: NDLEA Nabs Engineer For Trafficking Large Cocaine From SA
In Lagos, operatives arrested Usman Ayoola Adegoke after 71kg of Canadian Loud packed in 139 pouches was found in an apartment in Lekki.
Another suspect, Oluchi Celestine, was detained with 2.6kg of Colorado, some concealed in boarding passes.
Additionally, a raid on the notorious Peti drug enclave in Lagos Island yielded 385kg of various cannabis strains and the arrest of two suspects. The agency also recovered 163,200 capsules of tramadol during a separate operation at a Maza Maza motor park.
Babafemi noted that NDLEA formations nationwide also intensified War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programmes in schools, churches, workplaces, and communities. Institutions reached during the week include Baptist High School, Ilero (Oyo), St. Michael Anglican Primary School (Lagos), Government Day Secondary School (Katsina and Sokoto), St. Paul’s College (Enugu), and Iwoye Area Community High School (Ogun).
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the commands involved covering Lagos, MMIA, Kogi, Edo, Cross River, Enugu, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, and the FCT for their coordinated actions.
He urged operatives to remain steadfast as the festive season approaches, warning that criminal groups often intensify trafficking activities at this time.
“The coming weeks offer both opportunity and danger,” Marwa said. “Drug cartels may try to exploit the holiday period. We must remain vigilant and unrelenting.”