By Nkechi Eze
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recorded significant breakthroughs in the ongoing nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking and abuse, with high-profile arrests, large-scale seizures, and coordinated operations across multiple states between June 28 and July 5, 2025.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA officers attached to the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) uncovered two consignments of cocaine at a courier company in Lagos on Thursday, July 3. The drugs were concealed in creative but deceptive packaging, 420 grams hidden in 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the United Kingdom, and 280 grams stuffed inside a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) destined for Saudi Arabia.
In a separate operation, a notorious drug kingpin, Ajetsibo Emami, also known as “Warri Kinsman,” was arrested in Ikeja, Lagos, on June 28, following a three-day intelligence-led operation that dismantled his drug trafficking network. The crackdown led to the arrest of three other suspects and the recovery of 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud (a potent strain of cannabis), weighing 414.2 kilograms. The syndicate was reportedly preparing to move the consignment to Lekki for further distribution across Lagos and beyond.
Also in Lagos, a family-led drug ring involving businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary, their daughters, and a family friend was exposed. The couple was first arrested on June 13 by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and transferred to NDLEA with 277.5kg of skunk. Subsequent investigations led to a raid on July 1, uncovering an additional 231kg of skunk at their residence. Their daughters, Ngozi and Blessing Uchenna, and family associate Okoro Elijah were arrested for continuing operations in the couple’s absence.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, on July 2, NDLEA operatives intercepted a frequent flyer, Aburemi Hysent, who was attempting to smuggle 7,660 pills of tramadol (225mg and 200mg) concealed in food items bound for Italy. Hysent admitted he was promised 800 euros for successfully delivering the consignment.
In another operation at the airport on July 4, operatives intercepted 52 pieces of travellers’ cheques worth 17.7 million Australian dollars hidden inside children’s books and intended for Malaysia via Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight. The freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed, was arrested, and the suspected counterfeit cheques are to be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Seme border recovered 718 large wraps of skunk weighing 359kg from a store in the Baba-Pupa area of Badagry on July 5. On the same day, patrol officers along the Okene-Lokoja highway intercepted 10,000 pills of tramadol and co-codamol, along with 1.050kg of Colorado (synthetic cannabis). Follow-up operations led to the arrest of Chinedu Odo, Samuel Ogbonna, and Kingsley Ugaji at Jabi Park, Abuja.
In Osun State, multiple operations led to the arrest of several suspects and the seizure of large quantities of opioids. Two suspects were nabbed in Osogbo with nearly 14,000 pills and ampoules, while another was arrested in Ile-Ife with over 48,000 pills. A raid on a vulcanizer’s workshop yielded 1,250 ampoules of pentazocine, 850 tramadol pills, and codeine-based syrup. In a major destruction effort, NDLEA operatives cleared a 9.67-hectare cannabis farm in Ikaka, Oke-Ila forest, destroying 24,175kg of skunk and arresting seven suspects.
In Borno, 167kg of skunk was seized at Gamboru-Ngala, while another 452kg was intercepted at Gadar Tamburawa along the Zaria-Kano road. Two suspects, Nasuru Saleh and Mustapha Muhammad, were arrested in connection with the haul. Along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, operatives recovered 11,000 tramadol pills from Sule Ibrahim Sadiq, while in Sokoto, 62-year-old Joseph Onungene was arrested with 4,800 tramadol pills.
Kebbi State also recorded a major bust at Bakin Kasuwa in Yauri, with 312kg of skunk and 10,000 diazepam tablets seized. In Taraba, operatives arrested Chigbo Okolo and Ishaku Musa with nearly 50,000 capsules of tramadol in Ardo-Kola LGA.
In Edo State, a wanted suspect, Alaba Monday, was arrested in Owan West with 115kg of processed skunk from one of his farms. Three others Shamsu Abdullahi, Peter Egboko, and Justin John were apprehended in a separate cannabis farm measuring over two hectares.
A 78-year-old suspect, Mike Abeng, was arrested in Cross River State with 14.49kg of skunk and tramadol in Ofudua, Obubra LGA. Others arrested in the operation include Oyom Akam, Sylvester Odem, and Moses Ayo.
As part of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, NDLEA also conducted sensitization lectures at Queen of Angel Secondary School in Enugu, Divine Purpose College in Lagos, Al-Furqan College in Katsina, and Gomari Binta Suga community in Borno.
Commending the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), applauded officers of DOGI, MMIA, Lagos, Seme, Kogi, Osun, Borno, Kano, Edo, Kaduna, Cross River, Kebbi, and Taraba Commands. He praised their dedication to balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction efforts, stressing the agency’s commitment to eradicating illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria.
