The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, after seven years on the run. The 60-year-old suspect was apprehended at his hideout on 72 Michael Ojo Street, Isheri, in the Ojo area of Lagos State on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
The arrest followed the interception of a white Toyota Sienna vehicle conveying hard drugs along the Apapa-Oshodi expressway at Ilasamaja. NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, one of Okpara’s couriers, at around 5:45 a.m.
According to Femi Babafemi the agency's spokesperson, the agency’s sniffer dogs uncovered 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine hidden in concealed compartments of the vehicle.
A subsequent raid on Okpara’s residence led to the recovery of another 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine, bringing the total drug haul linked to him to 11.6kg.
In a related operation, NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in collaboration with Aviation Security personnel from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Wednesday, July 16, intercepted 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from a passenger bound for Italy. The suspect, Omoregie Nice Uyiosa, confessed to purchasing the drugs with the intent to resell them in Italy at a profit.
Another seizure at the Lagos airport occurred on Thursday, July 17, when 17 parcels of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 1.7kg, were found hidden in packs of Golden Morn cereal destined for Pakistan. Chioba Robert Uchenna, who presented the consignment for export, was taken into custody.
Elsewhere in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided Sarah Sam Hotels in Ogudu, Kosofe, on Saturday, July 19, recovering a variety of illicit substances including 1.3kg of chocolate cannabis, 900 grams of drug-laced gummies, and 22.9 grams of skunk. The hotel is allegedly a hub for the distribution of party drugs. A suspect, Obayemi Oyetade, identified as the ringleader, was arrested. Three vehicles were also confiscated.
Significant operations across other states also yielded major seizures and arrests:
Kaduna State: 742.866kg of skunk and Colorado were recovered from three suspects in Chikun LGA.
Kano State: Lawan Rabiu was caught with 36,000 tramadol pills on the Dantata-Kazaure road.
Gombe State: 25,000 pills of tramadol and eExol-5were seized at Gombe roundabout, while 29kg of compressed skunk was recovered from two suspects in Kwadom.
Borno State: 74,360 pills of opioids were seized from a suspect along Baga road in Maiduguri.
Bayelsa State: A 63-year-old woman, Akuna Nelson, was arrested in Yenagoa with 163 litres of skuchies.
Kogi State: Four suspects were arrested on the Okene-Lokoja highway with 2kg of methamphetamine.
Abia State: A raid on a known drug dealer, Nduka Obi, in Aba yielded quantities of tramadol, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, along with N736,000 in cash.
Enugu State: 45,000 pills of tramadol were intercepted from Chisom Okpalaeke along the Othe nitsha-Enugu expressway.
Taraba State: Two suspects were caught in Gassol LGA with 10,000 capsules of tramadol and a gram of cannabis.
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives also destroyed over 101,150kg of skunk concealed in a forest.
As part of its ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, NDLEA also conducted sensitisation campaigns across schools and communities nationwide, educating students and residents on the dangers of drug abuse.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the agency’s operatives for their diligence and reinforced the agency’s commitment to balancing drug supply suppression with demand reduction through education and advocacy.