The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, with 1.550kg of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as he prepared to travel to New Delhi, India.
Nwankwo, a marble dealer in Lagos, had planned to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi when NDLEA operatives arrested him at Terminal II of the Lagos airport.
NDLEA officers searched his check-in bag and found 1.550kg of cocaine concealed inside its side walls and railings.
The suspect told investigators that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise ₦23 million for the drug consignment. He expected to sell the cocaine in India for as much as N100 million.
With his assets gone, the arrest ended his plan to make quick money through the illicit drug trade. Nwankwo remains in NDLEA custody and faces prosecution.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse inside a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace, Okota, Lagos, following credible intelligence.
The operation, carried out between Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August 2026, led to the seizure of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup. NDLEA valued the controlled substance at more than N2.6 billion.
Also, operatives raided the home of 55-year-old drug kingpin Shoremi Kayode at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja, Lagos, on Wednesday 14th August. They recovered 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, worth N972 million.
The officers also seized a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla from the suspect.
In Kwara, NDLEA arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at Kam Wire, Ilorin, on Thursday 13th August. Officers found 55.96kg of skunk in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.
Also, the NDLEA officers on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State, arrested 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, on Wednesday 12th August.
The suspects travelled in a Toyota Sienna bearing registration number FFA-115KA. Officers recovered 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection from the vehicle.
In Delta, NDLEA operatives arrested Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along the Onitsha/Asaba Expressway on Thursday 13th August. The officers recovered 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.
Similarly, officers arrested Emeka Tony, 50, along the Kwale/Ozoro Expressway on Wednesday 12th August. They recovered 1,244 pieces of cartridges and N8 million in cash from him.
In Plateau, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla marked MKD 341 EA along the Riyom/Jos Road, Jos. The operation led to the arrest of Kasum Sherif and the seizure of 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Zaria-Kano Road arrested six suspects on Monday 10th August. They include Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.
The officers recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids. They also seized 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso LGA, Kano, on Friday 14th August. They recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg and arrested Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24.
In Edo, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775kg of skunk from two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke Forest in Orhionmwon LGA.
The officers arrested Agholor Elebojie, 40, during a raid on one of the farms on Wednesday 12th August. Furthermore, officers arrested Kingsley Anigala, 28, during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City on Friday 14th August.
They recovered 25.857kg of Loud and 93 grams of methamphetamine from Anigala.
However, the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continued across the country during the week. NDLEA Commands held sensitisation activities for students and staff at Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School, Kano, and Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos State, among others.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers, men and women of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa praised NDLEA personnel across the country for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
External Links
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) official website
NDLEA mandate and operational responsibilities
Vanguard report on the NDLEA arrests and seizures
