Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted six million pills of opioids — including Tamol 225mg, Tapentadol 225mg, and Carisoprodol 225mg — along with 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, with a total estimated street value of ₦6.52 billion, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, and the Apapa Seaport, Lagos.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that the seizures followed actionable intelligence and tracking of emerging trafficking routes used by drug cartels, prompting the agency to subject targeted containers to 100% physical examination.
“The consignments at the Port Harcourt Ports — six million pills of opioids and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup — were uncovered in two containers on May 19 and 20 during a joint examination by NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies,” Babafemi stated.
At the Apapa Port, an additional 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered in a container under watch during a joint inspection on May 22.
Arrest of Two British Nationals and Nigerian Accomplices
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested two British nationals — Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon — alongside two Nigerians, Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami, for attempting to smuggle 92 bags of Loud (a potent cannabis strain) weighing 51.10kg into the country.
Tatendra, who arrived via Qatar Airways from Doha on May 15, was allowed to pass initial checks and was trailed to the airport car park, where he met Adejuwon and the others in an SUV. NDLEA officers swooped in as the suspects attempted to exit the premises, recovering the drug consignment from the vehicle.
Tatendra confessed he was promised £1,300 to deliver the drugs. Adejuwon, identified as the leader of the syndicate, had arrived in Nigeria from South Africa via Ghana a day earlier. A follow-up search of their Lekki residence yielded the following items:
₦3,810,500 in cash
₦93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand
One Apple laptop, iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four nitrous oxide canisters
Massive Skunk Destruction and Nationwide Seizures
In Cross River State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 75,000kg of skunk on 30 hectares of cannabis farmland in Esuk-Odot, Odukpani LGA, and recovered an additional 200kg of the substance on May 22.
In Edo State, a total of 1,957.5kg of skunk was destroyed in Ovia West and Owan West LGAs during operations conducted on May 23 and 24.
In Nasarawa State, two suspects — Sunday Daniel (51) and Abu Peter (30) — were arrested after 4,000kg of skunk was intercepted on May 24 in Keffi, concealed under unprocessed wood in a truck. On May 21, another suspect, Godwin Obi (39), was caught with 154.5kg in Karu.
Other Arrests and Seizures
Kaduna: 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza arrested with 57,750 pills of tramadol and diazepam on the Kaduna–Zaria highway on May 21
Bauchi: Usman Muhammad (45) intercepted with 80 blocks of skunk weighing 45kg along the Bauchi–Misau road
Yobe: Adum Muhammed (29) caught with 55 parcels of Colorado (2kg) en route to Chad through the Ngamboru Ngala border
Niger: Adams Ayibakro arrested with 235 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 97kg along the Mokwa–Jebba road
Lagos: Raids in Osapa London, Lekki, led to the arrest of Jonathan Isa with multiple illicit substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine, molly, and codeine. In a separate raid in Idasun, Ibeju-Lekki, Olamilekan Idowu was apprehended with 48kg of skunk
WADA Advocacy Campaign Continues Across the Country
As part of its ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, NDLEA carried out drug education and sensitization programs at the following schools:
Adamu Babbale Government Secondary School, Katsina
Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, Akwa Ibom
Nnodo Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi
Government Secondary School, Guyuk, Adamawa
Government Girls Islamic Secondary School, Gwagwarwa, Kano
In Lagos, NDLEA officials also paid an advocacy visit to the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Muhammadu Bambado.
NDLEA Chairman Commends Officers
Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended the officers and men of the agency’s commands in Port Harcourt, Lagos, MMIA, Nasarawa, Cross River, Edo, Niger, Kaduna, Yobe, and Bauchi for their outstanding work. He praised the agency’s commitment to both drug supply suppression and demand reduction efforts across the country.
