Video: NDLEA arrests 75-year-old grandpa, others, seizes tons of illicit substances

Abdullateef Fowewe

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made significant arrests and confiscated large quantities of illegal drugs, disrupting major trafficking networks.

Among those apprehended was 75-year-old Uchelue Ikechukwu, caught with 26.7 kg of skunk in Umudioka, Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State on August 28, 2025.

The NDLEA statement revealed that Uchelue was “among six suspects arrested with illicit substances in raids” across parts of Anambra State. Other suspects in the state included Eneh Makuo, Emmanuel Chiemeli, Uwakwe Matthew, Chukwujekwu Ehirim, Ifeanyichukwu Olisa, and Odoh Chukwuma, all detained with varying quantities of opioids and skunk.

A milestone operation in Taraba State saw the arrest of 30-year-old Alfa Andrew, caught with a Dane gun on August 26 at his massive 71.5-hectare cannabis farm in Mayodoga forest, Sardauna local government area. NDLEA operatives, alongside Nigerian Army personnel and local vigilantes, destroyed a whopping 178,750 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.

The NDLEA also intercepted a major shipment of illicit drugs headed for insurgents in Borno State. On August 29, operatives seized 104,900 capsules of tramadol concealed in the driver’s compartment of a fuel tanker at the Abuja/Kaduna tollgate in Kaduna, detaining suspect Hassan Buba. Another suspect, Kabir Sulaiman, aged 45, was arrested on August 30 at the Gwargwaje-Zaria checkpoint with 34.150 kg of skunk.

In a separate interdiction on August 30, 33-year-old Uchenna Umeh, identified as a major opioid supplier in Borno, was apprehended in Maiduguri. Authorities recovered 30,640 pills of tramadol (225mg), 7,940 rohypnol tablets, and nearly eight million naira in cash hidden in new N200 notes from his apartment.

Further arrests were recorded in Nasarawa State, where 36-year-old Abubakar Dauda was arrested with 79,040 tramadol and diazepam pills at Abacha Park, Mararaba Karu, on August 28. On August 26, Babangida Tungura, 47, was caught in Lafia with 30,410 tramadol and rohypnol pills alongside 38 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed in a freezer, reportedly brought from Asaba, Delta State.

In Adamawa State, 23-year-old Mohammed Ali was arrested on August 27 during a follow-up operation after attempts to smuggle 15,000 tramadol capsules hidden in sacks of animal feed were foiled at Gombe mega park.

Kano State also witnessed significant seizures. On August 26, Ashiru Garba (20) and Aminu Abdu (22) were arrested along the Kano-Hadeja road with 1.5 kg of skunk and 25,000 exol-5 tablets. On August 28, Ali Muhammad (37) and Muhammad Maishanu (42) were detained along Zaria-Kano road with 8,080 bottles of a New Psychoactive Substance and 25.7 kg of skunk. Additionally, NDLEA operatives seized 250,000 tablets of exol-5 from 25-year-old Alhasaan Musa in the Zango area of Ungogo LGA on August 30.

“Meanwhile, across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week.

“Instances include: WADA sensitization lecture to secondary school students in Onitsha during their annual holiday lessons at Ezechima Primary School, Onitsha, Anambra state; youths of Anglican Church Diocese, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; WADA advocacy visits to HRM De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi, the Akran of Badagry, Lagos State; the MD/CEO of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho and his management team in Lagos; the First Lady of Ogun state, Her Excellency Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; and the Olofin of Isheri, HRM Oba Suleiman Adekunle Bamgbade Ayodele 111, Lagos, among others,” said the NDLEA’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

While commending the officers and men of Anambra, Taraba, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, and Edo, Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also commended their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.