By Nkechi Eze
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted cocaine and opioid consignments concealed in carton walls and destined for the United Kingdom and Australia, as the agency intensified nationwide operations against drug trafficking and illicit substance distribution across multiple states.
According to an official signed statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the interceptions were made on Friday, 15 May 2026, during the examination of export shipments at a courier company in Lagos.
Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA officers recovered 170 grams of cocaine sealed in cellophane parcels and hidden inside the walls of a carton containing clothes bound for Australia.
He added that another shipment heading to the United Kingdom contained a cache of opioids concealed in a carton, including 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives raided forests and cannabis plantations in separate operations that led to the destruction of 65,000 kilograms of skunk.
The statement noted that officers stormed Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area on Sunday, 10 May, where 27,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 11 hectares of farmland were destroyed, while 22.9 kilograms of the same substance were recovered.
A follow-up operation at Obiaruku also led to the arrest of a 52-year-old suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Peter.
Similarly, another raid at Orogun village in Ughelli North Local Government Area on Tuesday, 12 May, resulted in the destruction of 37,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 15 hectares of farmland and the recovery of 55.4 kilograms of the substance.
NDLEA operatives also arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Godwin Vincent Osadera, during the operation.
According to the agency, the two operations, carried out with support from military personnel, resulted in the destruction of a combined 65,000 kilograms of skunk.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA officers recovered 361 kilograms of skunk during a raid at Dan Magaji area of Zaria town on Wednesday, 13 May, leading to the arrest of a 42-year-old suspect, Husaini Suleiman.
The agency also intercepted a cache of military-grade ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna highway on Tuesday, 12 May.
Babafemi disclosed that a 35-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Hassan, was apprehended while transporting 1,989 rounds of RLA 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside fresh cassava granules popularly known as garri.
He said both the suspect and the recovered ammunition had been transferred to another security agency for further investigation.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested a 29-year-old businessman, Ogadi Peter, who allegedly specialised in producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties and social gatherings within Abuja.
The suspect was arrested at his residence in the Life Camp area of the FCT on Monday, 11 May, following intelligence reports.
According to the agency, officers recovered 800 grams of skunk and 2.70 kilograms of drug-infused cookies from him.
In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives recovered 181 kilograms of skunk during a raid in the Ogere area on Wednesday, 13 May, while a suspect identified as Aliyu Sani was arrested.
Another suspect, Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa, 27, was apprehended along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State with 105,850 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5.
In Oyo State, two suspects identified as Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, were arrested at Challenge II in Saki town on Thursday, 14 May, in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers also destroyed 1,388.4175 kilograms of skunk on two farms during a raid on Ago forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State on Friday, 15 May.
In Kano State, operatives recovered 1.2 kilograms of tramaking 225mg pills concealed inside a 25-litre jerry can of palm oil at Kofar Ruwa motor park on Monday, 11 May.
The same day, another suspect identified as Aminu Isa, 35, was arrested at Sabuwar Sharada area of Kano with 30.5 kilograms of skunk.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued across schools and communities nationwide.
According to the statement, sensitisation lectures were delivered to students and staff of several institutions, including The Apostolic Church Model College, Ijokodo in Oyo State; School of Health Technology, Lambata in Niger State; Yewa Junior High School, Agege in Lagos State; Government Secondary School, Yardaje in Katsina State; Igogo Commercial High School in Ekiti State; and Government Girls Secondary School, Magwan in Kano State.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and men of the agency across various commands for the arrests and seizures recorded during the week.
He also praised NDLEA personnel nationwide for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction operations and drug demand reduction campaigns through sustained public sensitisation efforts.
