The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, with 1.55 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls and railings of his travel bag while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.Onyebuchi, a marble dealer based in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during a routine search.
The suspect reportedly confessed that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the cocaine, which he hoped to sell in India for as much as N100 million.
The NDLEA also recovered a massive consignment of codeine-based syrup during an intelligence-led raid on a warehouse located within a residential compound on Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos.
The operation, conducted between August 7 and 8, 2026, led to the seizure of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of the controlled substance, valued at more than N2.6 billion.
In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided the residence of a 55-year-old suspected drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, at Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, recovering 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at N972 million.
Two vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla, were also recovered from the suspect.
The agency’s nationwide operations also yielded significant seizures of illicit drugs and arrests in Kwara, Oyo, Delta, Plateau, Kano and Edo states.
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at Kam Wire area of Ilorin with 55.96 kilograms of skunk.
Meanwhile, a 70-year-old suspect, Abdulfatai Oyelaran, and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oyo State. Operatives recovered 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection from their Toyota Sienna vehicle.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives 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 and 200 ampoules of tramadol from two suspects, Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18.
Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 pieces of cartridges and N8 million in cash.
On the Riyom-Jos Road in Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested.
Kano State also recorded major seizures, with six suspects arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road. They were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.
Operatives recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
In another Kano operation, NDLEA officers raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area, recovering 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8 kilograms. Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested.
In Edo State, operatives destroyed 4,628.9775 kilograms of skunk from two cannabis farms covering 1.85 hectares in the 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 25.857 kilograms of Loud and 93 grams of methamphetamine.
The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign during the week, including lectures for students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos State.
Commending officers and personnel of the affected commands, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), praised the agency’s operatives for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa also commended NDLEA commands nationwide for maintaining what he described as a fair balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.
The latest operations underline the scale of the illicit drug networks being dismantled by the agency, with billions of naira worth of controlled substances seized across multiple states and suspects arrested for prosecution.
