NDLEA seizes N3.4bn worth of opioids, codeine in Lagos, Port Harcourt

Abdullateef Fowewe

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have seized illicit drug consignments worth over N3.4 billion in major operations spanning Lagos and Port Harcourt, leading to multiple arrests.

The NDLEA officers seized approximately 3.5 million opioid tablets and 163,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup in the two cities, with the total street value of the substances estimated at N3,428,000,000, revealed a statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman Femi Babafem.

The statement disclosed that a large portion of the drugs being two million tablets of tramadol 225mg and 163,000 bottles of codeine syrup, was uncovered on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, during a coordinated inspection of a monitored shipping container by NDLEA personnel, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other law enforcement agencies at the Onne seaport in Rivers State.

In another operation on the same day, agents in Lagos recovered 1.5 million opioid pills from a suspect identified as, Olarenwaju Wahab, in the Alaba-Rago area of Ojo, with further investigation led to the discovery of the consignment’s origin at Q104B Road 25, Victoria Garden City, Lekki — the home of Obinna Kenneth, who is currently evading arrest.

NDLEA officials also at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos intercepted a shipment of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 20 kilograms, which was disguised in containers of chocolate powder, Milo, and kidney beans.

The illicit shipment arrived via a British Airways flight from Canada, and three individuals, including the recipient, Monsurat Ewawunmi Lawson, were arrested between April 30 and May 3.

The statement reads in part, “On Friday, May 2, another suspect, Bobby Morris Osas, was apprehended at the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to Italy. A detailed search of his baggage revealed 8,130 tramadol pills in various strengths — 225mg, 200mg, and 100mg.

“Similarly, on Monday, April 28, NDLEA operatives led by the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), foiled an attempt to smuggle 104 grams of tramadol and skunk hidden in body cream containers destined for Iraq via a courier service in Lagos.

“In Kano, five members of a drug syndicate led by one Aminu Musa (aka Kadagi) were arrested at Dangoro Market on April 30, with 50 blocks of skunk weighing 21.6kg recovered. In Uromi, Edo State, NDLEA intercepted a white Toyota bus loaded with assorted opioids from Onitsha, en route to Auchi.

“The recovered items included 314,020 pills of tramadol, rophynol, diazepam, exol-5, 638 bottles of codeine syrup, and 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection. A suspect, Dare Adeyemo, was apprehended.”