In a series of high-impact operations, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled major drug trafficking networks across Nigeria, seizing vast quantities of illicit substances, vehicles, and arresting key suspects.
A statement by its director of media and advocacy Femi Babafemi indicated that a midnight raid on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Kagini, Kubwa, Abuja, saw NDLEA operatives intercept a 40ft trailer carrying 2,217.6 kilograms of skunk. The drugs, loaded in Edo State, were being transferred into six vehicles for distribution to Northern states. Among the impounded vehicles were a Toyota Sienna, Camry, and a JAC Hilux, with a suspect, Isaac Monday Desmond, arrested at the scene.
In Lagos, officers uncovered 20 wraps of cocaine cleverly concealed in face cream bottles destined for Australia, while in Rivers State, over 338,000 bottles of codeine syrup worth N1.19 billion were intercepted at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex during a joint operation with Customs and other security agencies.
The NDLEA also apprehended a notorious Lagos shrine priest, Bariu Aliu, after months on the run. Aliu, believed to lead a syndicate linked to 2,760 kilograms of skunk seized in October 2024, was arrested after an extensive manhunt.
In Kano, operatives nabbed Habibu Ya’u, 23, with 24.2 kilograms of cannabis and 40,800 opioid pills, while in another Abuja raid, two suspects were arrested with 1.398 kilograms of cocaine and precursors for crack production.
In tandem with these enforcement actions, NDLEA expanded its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, engaging communities, schools, and religious centers nationwide to tackle drug demand. Advocacy efforts included outreach to surrendered Boko Haram members and local leaders.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) lauded the agency’s officers for their dedication, highlighting their balanced approach to disrupting drug supply and fostering awareness. “These successes demonstrate our resolve to protect the nation from the scourge of drug abuse and trafficking,” Marwa said.
This crackdown reinforces NDLEA’s commitment to safeguarding lives and dismantling drug cartels threatening the nation’s security.