Agency carries out multiple raids across Nigeria, arrests 10 suspects in major anti-drug operations
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a shipment of cocaine concealed within religious books and seized over one ton of various illicit substances during coordinated operations across several Nigerian states.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives uncovered 500 grammes of cocaine hidden in 20 religious books at a courier facility in Lagos. The package, destined for Saudi Arabia, was intercepted on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
“NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation discovered 20 parcels of cocaine cleverly buried within the pages of religious books at a courier company in Lagos,” Babafemi stated.
On the same day, officials at another courier outlet in Lagos intercepted a shipment containing five parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 2.8 kilogrammes. The parcel had originated from the United States.
Arrests and Seizures Across Nigeria.
In Kano State, a 22-year-old suspect, Muhammad Mohammed, was apprehended while attempting to transport 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection—concealed around his thighs and private parts—to Katsina. Another suspect, 43-year-old Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, was arrested the same day in the Research Rimin Kebe area with 68 blocks of skunk weighing 30kg.
In Bayelsa, NDLEA operatives raided a residence on Major General Isaiah Allison Street in Opolo, Yenagoa, where they seized:
- 557.2kg of skunk
- 5.6kg of methamphetamine
- 29.8 grammes of heroin
Four suspects were taken into custody during the operation:
Sarimiye Suwa Kurtis (46), Roland Prosper (34), Sarimiye Tare Paul (45), and Fidelis Ugbesla (46).
In Lagos, a driver was arrested after 1,100kg of skunk was discovered in a delivery van. Meanwhile, in Kaduna, one Ike Ani was arrested at a known hideout with 31,950 pills of Tramadol (225mg) and Diazepam.
Kebbi State recorded another bust as NDLEA officials arrested three individuals—Abubakar Ibrahim (50), Mustapha Aliyu (32), and Bashar Lawali (28)—in connection with 97kg of skunk concealed in sacks of charcoal.
In Anambra State, 48-year-old Okafor Marcel was caught in Abatete with 11.5kg of skunk, while in Osogbo, Osun State, Ajala Mercy (27) was arrested at Dada Estate with 43 litres of ‘skushi’—a dangerous cocktail of blackcurrant, cannabis, and opioids.
Massive Cannabis Farm Destroyed in Edo.
In Edo State’s Egbeta Forest (Ovia North-East LGA), NDLEA agents destroyed 1.48 hectares of cannabis plantations, eliminating 3,717.86kg of the psychoactive plant. They also recovered 136.5kg of processed cannabis.
More Read
Major Arrest at Lagos Seaport.
At Tincan Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives finally arrested Basorun Usman Kayode (40), a fugitive linked to the 2023 seizure of 107kg of Loud imported from Canada. Another notorious dealer, Dauda Yakubu, was also apprehended for distributing drugs within the port community.According to PunchNG, these latest arrests and seizures represent yet another bold and strategic move by the NDLEA in its ongoing war against drug trafficking in Nigeria. The agency continues to intensify its efforts to dismantle well-organized drug syndicates operating within and beyond the country’s borders. By intercepting large volumes of illicit substances and apprehending key suspects, the NDLEA like it’s agency partners is sending a strong message to drug traffickers that Nigeria is not a safe haven for their criminal activities. These operations are also a critical step toward safeguarding public health, protecting vulnerable communities, and upholding national security.
