NDLEA Arrests Businessman With N23m Cocaine, Seizes N2.6bn Codeine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded another victory in its fight against the trafficking of hard drugs and illegal substances following the arrest of one Nwankwo Onyebuchi.

Giving an update on its recent operation via a statement issued on Sunday, August 16, the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed that the 48-year-old businessman was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with 1.550kg of cocaine concealed in the walls and railings of his luggage.

According to Babafemi, the suspect, who deals in marbles in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the airport while attempting to smuggle away the substances through a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.

The suspect reportedly confessed that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise ₦23 million to purchase the consignment, which he expected to sell in India for up to N100m.

Babafemi said, “In a candid confession that lays bare the desperation that fuels the drug trade, Nwankwo said he had sold off his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the ₦23m he paid for the consignment, with the expectation of selling it in India for as much as ₦100m.”

He added that the suspect remained in custody awaiting prosecution.

The statement added, “In another operation, the NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a warehouse within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos, where a massive stockpile of codeine-based syrup was discovered.

“A total of 3,776 cartons, comprising 377,600 bottles of the controlled substance, valued at over N2.6 billion, were recovered between Friday, 7th, and Saturday, 8th August 2026.

“In yet another intelligence-led operation, the NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 14th August, raided the residence of a 55-year-old kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja area of Lagos, recovering 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a street value of nine hundred and N972,000,000. Also recovered from the suspect were a Mercedes-Benz car and a Toyota Corolla car.”

According to the statement, the agency also arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, in Kwara State on August 13 at the Kam Wire area of Ilorin with 55.96kg of skunk in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.

Two other suspects, Abdulfatai Oyelaran, 70, and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were arrested on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oyo State on August 12.

The agency said 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection were recovered from their Toyota Sienna vehicle marked FFA-115KA.

In Delta State, NDLEA operatives intercepted two suspects, Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway on August 13.

The agency said 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection were recovered.

Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested with 1,244 cartridges and N8m along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway on August 12.

In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla, registration number MKD 341 EA, along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. Authorities arrested a suspect, Kasum Sherif.

In Kano State, authorities arrested six suspects on August 10 along the Zaria-Kano Road. The suspects were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.

The agency said 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids, as well as 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, were recovered.

Also in Kano, NDLEA operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on August 14, recovering 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg.

Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

In Edo State, the agency said 4,628.9775kg of skunk was destroyed from two cannabis farms measuring 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

A suspect, Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested on one of the farms during the raid on August 12.

Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested with 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City on August 14.

Acknowledging the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), hailed all officers involved in the discovery and seizures at the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta commands.

In what he described as a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts, Marwa also commended officers from across states.

The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to ending drug abuse in the country and also vowed to intensify social advocacy activities.