The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has conducted a series of successful operations leading to multiple arrests and significant drug seizures across Nigeria.
In Osun State, the head of Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, was apprehended on Friday with fresh cannabis plants weighing 5 kg. NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed in a statement on Sunday that this arrest is part of ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and abuse in the region.
In a related operation in Kano, NDLEA officers arrested a youth corps member, Yusuf Abdulrahman, at Corpers Lodge in Sumaila, with 1.25 kg of Loud, a potent cannabis strain. Abdulrahman was caught with the substance during a raid at his residence.
Similarly, in Adamawa State, NDLEA agents on Wednesday arrested a Chadian national, Yves Ahmat Gali, during a stop-and-search operation along the Ngurore-Yola road. Gali was found concealing 20 compressed blocks and nine plastic containers of Loud, weighing a total of 5.2 kg, inside a loudspeaker while traveling in a commercial bus from Kano to Yola.
Further significant operations included the dismantling of a high-profile cocaine syndicate in Lagos. The operation, based on months of intelligence gathering, led to the arrest of Agbakoba John Mmadu and his wife, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, as well as their associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane. The trio were found with 10.1 kg of cocaine valued at over N2.1 billion. The arrests occurred at separate locations, with 7.652 kg of cocaine recovered from Mmadu at Ago Palace Way and 2.42 kg from Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin.
In Benue State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a parcel containing 350 grams of cocaine concealed in an MP3 speaker at a checkpoint along Enugu road in Otukpo. This led to a follow-up operation and the arrest of the parcel’s owner, 25-year-old Odeh Anthony, at Flight Motor Park.
Additionally, in Ondo State, officers conducted a raid in Ikota Forest, Ifedore LGA, where they destroyed 17 hectares of cannabis farmland and recovered 73.5 kg of the substance. The five-day operation culminated on July 1 with the arrest of two suspects, Monday Ali and Jimoh Alewi.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), NDLEA officers on Saturday detained Sanusi Mamman and Usaini Ibrahim along the Abaji-Gwagwalada road. They were found transporting 1,132 bottles of codeine syrup, 13,540 tramadol pills, 50,000 diazepam pills, and 59 pills of rophynol. The suspects claimed they were bringing the opioids from Onitsha, Anambra State.
NDLEA’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the agency’s officers for their efforts. He highlighted the importance of balancing drug supply reduction with ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities across schools, workplaces, and communities. “These operations demonstrate our commitment to eradicating drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria,” Marwa stated.
