The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old Lagos-based businessman allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.55kg of cocaine to India, as the agency announced multiple drug seizures worth more than N3.6 billion across several states.
The suspect, identified as Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi.
According to the NDLEA, the cocaine was concealed inside the walls and railings of his check-in bag.
The agency said Nwankwo, who traded in marbles, confessed that he had sold his business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the consignment, which he expected to sell for about N100 million in India.
He is currently in NDLEA custody and is expected to face prosecution.
In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse at Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, and recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at more than N2.6 billion.
The seizure was made between Friday, August 7, and Saturday, August 8, 2026.
The agency also arrested a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, during a raid on his residence at Ipaja Estate, Lagos, on August 14.
Operatives recovered 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N972 million, alongside a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla.
In Ilorin, Kwara State, two suspects, Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were arrested with 55.96kg of skunk while travelling in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.
Two other suspects, 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oyo State. NDLEA said their Toyota Sienna contained 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.
Along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway, operatives arrested Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, recovering 124,100 tramadol pills, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of Rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 ampoules of tramadol.
Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million in cash.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested.
In Kano State, six suspects were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road with 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids. The operatives also recovered 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
The suspects were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.
Also in Kano, a raid at Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area led to the seizure of 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg and the arrest of Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24.
In Edo State, NDLEA destroyed 4,628.98kg of skunk cultivated on two cannabis farms covering 1.85 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested at one of the farms.
Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City with 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine.
The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign during the week, with lectures delivered to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos, among others.
The agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the commands involved in the operations and urged continued efforts to balance drug supply reduction with demand reduction initiatives.
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