NDLEA’s Remarkable Bust: 14.4 Million Opioid Pills Seized in Lagos Raids

In a move against drug trafficking, the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria has seized a staggering 14.4 million pills of opioids with an estimated street value exceeding thirteen billion Naira. This remarkable achievement was the result of multiple operations conducted in Lagos, aimed at dismantling drug cartels operating in different parts of the city.

The operations commenced with a raid on House 8/10 Hon. Wahuha Avenue, Divine Estate, Ago Palace area of Amuwo Odofin. On October 29th, NDLEA operatives uncovered 490,000 pills of tramadol and 81,519 bottles of codeine syrup, totaling 4,510,000 milliliters.

Continuing their relentless efforts, NDLEA teams moved to Surulere on October 31st, where they targeted a secret warehouse operated by a prominent Idumota trader, Nwaoha Anayo. In this location, an astonishing twelve million, seven hundred thousand pills of tramadol were confiscated.

A parallel operation at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouse within Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport revealed a drug smuggling ring that involved using official cover. Six members of this syndicate were apprehended, and one million, two hundred and ten thousand pills of tramadol were intercepted. The NDLEA has identified three additional suspects who are currently on the run.

In a separate incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted a businessman named Nwokolo Ifeanyi Anthony during the outward clearance of a flight to Amsterdam, Netherlands. After body scanning, it was revealed that he had ingested 86 pellets of heroin weighing approximately 1.33 kilograms.

The fight against drug trafficking extended to the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), which is associated with courier firms. On October 30th, they intercepted 22 parcels of cocaine hidden within a carton of local fabrics heading to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

One particularly intriguing development was the arrest of three visually impaired individuals involved in an illicit drug ring between Lagos and Kano. The group’s existence came to light when a blind suspect, Adamu Hassan, was apprehended along the Gwagwalada expressway in Abuja, carrying 12 kilograms of skunk. Further investigations revealed that he had no knowledge of the contents of the bag he was transporting.

This initial arrest led to the discovery of the syndicate’s leader, Bello Abubakar, who is also visually impaired, and a third suspect, Muktar Abubakar. Both are married and have been living in Lagos for several decades, engaging in the illegal drug trade. Another blind suspect, Mallam Aminu, who was supposed to receive the consignment in Kano, remains at large.

While NDLEA operatives in different regions of Nigeria conducted several raids to combat drug abuse, including a massive cannabis farm destruction, the agency emphasized the importance of advocacy lectures and education to raise awareness of the dangers of drug abuse. Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised the dedication of NDLEA officers and urged them to remain vigilant as the agency expands its operations against drug cartels.