*NDLEA says its operatives intercepted illicit drugs worth over N10bn in street value in Lagos
*That it recovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian loud, strain of cannabis at Apapa seaport
*The Agency also recovered pills of 250mg, Tapentadol worth over N2.2bn aboard an Air Maroc
*Reveals that exercise was based on intelligence received processed by the Agency
By Palma Ileye
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs estimated at more than N10 billion in separate operations across Lagos, including seizures at the Apapa seaport and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives recovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 2,388.5 kilograms, with an estimated street value of over N7.1 billion.
Babafemi said the drugs were concealed inside three vehicles imported through the Apapa seaport and were discovered during a joint cargo examination conducted on Monday.
In another operation, the agency intercepted 2.24 million tablets of 250mg Tapentadol, valued at more than N2.2 billion, from a shipment that arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight on Friday. He noted that the seizure followed actionable intelligence processed by the agency.
The latest operations come shortly after NDLEA officers intercepted a consignment of tramadol hidden inside containers of black soap destined for the United Kingdom. The shipment was uncovered at a Lagos courier company on Wednesday, July 22.
The agency also arrested Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a 55-year-old clothing trader at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, for allegedly attempting to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed within the walls of cartons containing food items bound for the UK.
Babafemi said Chinedu was arrested on Thursday, July 23, 2026, after the cocaine shipment was intercepted a day earlier at the export section of the Lagos airport.
He explained that investigations initially led to the arrest of three cargo agents—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed, and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim—before investigators tracked and arrested Kenneth Okakpu, who delivered the consignment for export.
Further investigation identified Chinedu as the alleged leader of the drug trafficking syndicate, leading to his arrest while he was reportedly attempting to send another cocaine shipment to the UK.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, a 31-year-old entrepreneur, in Surulere, Lagos, after recovering 2.80 kilograms of Canadian Loud that had arrived from the United States.
Beyond drug-related arrests, the agency also intercepted suspects linked to illegal arms possession.
Babafemi said Mustapha Sani, 30, was arrested during a patrol at Baure in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, comprising 200 rounds of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm ammunition.
In another operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Abubakar Amadu, also 30, was arrested at Jere with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of red oil. Both suspects have been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
The NDLEA also said it has continued to intensify its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through awareness programmes in schools, places of worship and workplaces across the country.
Chairman of the agency, Buba Marwa, commended officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), as well as personnel from the MMIA, Apapa, Edo, Kaduna and Katsina commands, for the successful operations. He urged all commands nationwide to sustain the agency’s dual strategy of strengthening drug law enforcement while expanding drug demand reduction efforts.
