The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit substances – methamphetamine and opioids- at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

A statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said that the drugs were bound for countries in Europe.

He said that the illicit substances were concealed in walls of carton, winter jackets and body cream containers, with two of the consignments bound for Italy.

Babafemi said that the desperate attempt by members of the Drug Trafficking Organisations (DTOs) to move the consignments were foiled on Friday, March 20, while two suspects were arrested.

“One of them, a 37-year-old, was going to Rome, Italy on Friday, March 20, when he was intercepted while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airline flight.

“The suspect was with 2,698 pills of tramadol 225mg, concealed in containers of skin light body cream, all packed in the suspect’s luggage.

“In his statement, the suspect, who is a resident of Milan, confirmed that he was to be paid a negotiated fee in Euros, if he had succeeded in trafficking the consignment to Italy,” Babafemi said.

In another drug bust, the NDLEA operatives at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Wednesday, March 18, intercepted a passenger, who was attempting to board a Lufthansa Airline flight to Milan, Italy.

Babafemi said that upon a thorough search of his luggage, no fewer than 23,150 pills of tramadol 225mg; 4,000 tablets of tapentadol 250mg and 1,320 pills of tramadol 100mg, all concealed in two large winter jackets were recovered from him.

According to him, the total number of opioids was 28,470 pills.

“The 38-year-old suspect is also a resident of Milan,” he said.

Meanwhile, at a courier firm in Lagos, NDLEA officials on Monday, March 16, also intercepted two parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 1kg, hidden in a carton shipped to Lagos from the U.S.

Babafemi further said that operatives of NDLEA thwarted an attempt to export 158 grams of methamphetamine concealed in the walls of a carton bound for New Zealand.

Similarly, he stated that not less than 21,737 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from a store at Otto, Ijora area of Lagos, when operatives of the agency raided the area on Wednesday, March 18.

Babafemi said that two suspects were also arrested the same day on the 3rd Mainland Bridge, conveying 8,380 bottles of the same substance.

He also said operatives of the NDLEA, also on Wednesday, March 18 in Kano, arrested a suspect with 102.5kg  of skunk at Dan-Tsalle, while another suspect was nabbed same day at Naibawa Gabas, with 95.5kg of same psychoactive substance.

Babafemi also said not less than 586,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered by the NDLEA operatives from a suspect on the Kaduna-Zaria highway, Kaduna, on Tuesday, March 17.

He said that 7,290 tablets of tramadol 225mg were also seized from another suspect at the same location on Friday, March 20.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the NDLEA operatives in Taraba on Tuesday, March 17, intercepted a suspect along Takum-Jalingo highway, while conveying 77,660 capsules of tramadol to Gombe.

“Similarly, in Adamawa state, no fewer than six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 82.8kg tramadol in a truck in Yola, on Tuesday, March 17.

“Suspects who are joint owners of the consignment were all arrested in swift follow-up operations,”he said.

Speaking further, Babafemi said the agency’s operatives in Abuja on Wednesday, March 18, intercepted a commercial bus, on the Gwagwalada expressway in the FCT.

“A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 91,840 pills of tramadol, hidden in its body compartments.

“The bus driver was promptly taken into custody,” he said.

In the same vein, on Monday, March 16, 97.5kg of skunk was recovered from the home of a suspect in Ojah, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area (LGA) in Edo, the NDLEA spokesperson said.

Babafemi also said that a suspect was apprehended on Tuesday, March 17, at Oke-Oyan, Ibarapa LGA, with 71.2kg of skunk, which he smuggled into Nigeria from Benin Republic, via the Oyan River.

He said that commands and formations of the agency across the country have continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities in the past week.

These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Girls High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; New State High School, Mushin, Lagos and Cornerstone Secondary School, Sankwala, in Cross River.

Others are Community Secondary School, Ngwo-Uno, Udi, Enugu and St. John’s Academy, Ipokia LGA, Ogun state, among others.

Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of the MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Oyo, FCT, Taraba, and Adamawa Commands, for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

By Elijah Oguche

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has said the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested no fewer than 77,792 drug offenders and seized about 14,847 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs in the last five years.

Marwa disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the NDLEA Commands, Awards and Commendations Ceremony, where outstanding commands and personnel of the agency were honoured for their performance over the past year.

According to him, the seizures significantly disrupted local and transnational drug trafficking networks, sending a clear message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for illicit drug enterprises.

He said the agency also arrested 128 identified drug barons who played central roles in major trafficking operations across the country, noting that the successes were the result of deliberate reforms aimed at repositioning the NDLEA for effective service delivery.

Marwa explained that over the period under review, the agency secured 14,225 convictions, strengthening deterrence and reinforcing the consequences of drug-related crimes.

He said, “It is therefore heartwarming to note that in the last five years, we recorded significant operational successes, including the arrest of 77,792 drug offenders, including 128 identified drug barons who were central to major trafficking networks.

“We seized a total of 14,847,000 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, thereby significantly disrupting both local and transnational supply chains.

“In further strengthening the criminal justice response to drug offences, the agency successfully prosecuted and secured convictions against 14,225 offenders, reinforcing deterrence and affirming that drug crime attracts consequences.”

Beyond enforcement, he said the NDLEA intensified efforts at drug demand reduction, revealing that 32,442 drug users benefited from counselling, treatment and rehabilitation programmes nationwide.

He added that the agency conducted 13,735 sensitisation activities under its War Against Drug Abuse campaign across schools, markets, motor parks, workplaces, worship centres and communities to curb substance abuse and promote preventive awareness.

Marwa attributed the achievements to improved intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, capacity building and enhanced welfare for officers and men of the agency, as well as sustained motivation through internal reward mechanisms.

He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for extending his tenure for another five years, describing the decision as a call for greater commitment in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.

The NDLEA boss assured Nigerians that the agency would intensify its operations in the new tenure, vowing that there would be no respite for drug barons, traffickers and couriers, regardless of how long it takes to bring them to justice.

He said, “As we celebrate, we must recognise that the goldfish has no hiding place. The next phase of our operations demands even more grit and more tactical sophistication.

“We will not rest until every drug baron is behind bars, every trafficker is intercepted, every mule is caught, and every single gram of illicit drug is removed from our streets.

“There is no room for complacency. We must remain proactive, intelligence-led, and ruthless in our pursuit of those who seek to destroy our youth and national security. Let me be clear, the objective of this agency remains the total disruption of drug trafficking and the protection of our communities.

“The expectation is sustained pressure until every drug baron, trafficker, courier, and every gram of illicit drugs is taken out of our streets and communities.”

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting public health and national security, stressing that the ultimate objective remains the total disruption of drug trafficking and the creation of a safer, drug-free Nigeria.

Marwa was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA in 2021, after which the agency adopted intelligence-led operations, strengthened inter-agency and international collaboration, and prioritised staff welfare and accountability.

In 2025, President Bola Tinubu approved the extension of his appointment for another five-year term.

Speaking at the event, Marwa pledged to intensify the crackdown on drug trafficking networks and scale up efforts to curb drug abuse nationwide.

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Idris Nasiru, for allegedly operating an illegal clinic in Ore, Ondo State.

The arrest, which took place on January 14, 2026, followed what the police described as “another significant breakthrough in its sustained fight against medical quackery”.

In a Sunday statement signed by the Ondo Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the command said the suspect was apprehended during an intelligence-led operation by its surveillance team.

“The arrest followed an intelligence-led operation by Command’s Surveillance Team, during which the suspect, Idris Nasiru (male), aged 25 years, was apprehended,” the statement read.

According to Jimoh, a search of the suspect’s shop led to the recovery of several medical items.

“A search of his shop led to the recovery of various medical items, including packs of injection needles, medical drips, bandages, and assorted medical kits,” the statement said.

The statement added that a further search of the suspect’s residence was conducted with a duly signed warrant.

“Subsequently, a thorough search of his residence was conducted with a duly signed search warrant, during which used injection bottles, needles, and syringes were also recovered,” the command stated.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was not a registered medical practitioner.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is not a registered medical practitioner, confirming that the clinic was being operated illegally,” the statement said.

The command noted that the suspect had made statements to investigators and would be charged to court.

“He has since made useful statements while in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” the police said.

Commending the operatives involved, the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, emphasised the role of intelligence-led policing.

He emphasised the importance of intelligence-led policing in disrupting criminal activities and reassured residents of the command’s “unwavering resolve to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safety and security of lives and property across the State”.

The commissioner also expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his “strategic leadership and continuous support through reforms and initiatives aimed at strengthening public safety and addressing medical-related crimes”.

The command urged members of the public to cooperate with the police.

“The Ondo State Police Command urges members of the public to continue cooperating with the Police by providing credible and actionable information that will assist in combating crime and criminality across the State,” the statement said.

The spokesperson also advised residents to be cautious when seeking medical services.

“The Command further advises residents of Ondo State to exercise caution when seeking medical services and to remain vigilant to avoid falling victim to medical quacks,” Jimoh added.