The NDLEA has smashed multiple drug cartels across Nigeria, seizing meth, cocaine, “Loud,” skunk, and opioids in a sweeping week-long crackdown that brought down nine major kingpins.
Between 17 and 22 November, operatives launched coordinated raids on airports, highways, warehouses, and online dealers.
At Lagos airport, officers uncovered meth and cocaine stuffed inside pressure machine cylinders shipped from South Africa, arresting two suspects traced to Onitsha. Another bust exposed 2.3kg of cocaine hidden in a brake servo auto part, leading to arrests at the Trade Fair Complex.
Nationwide seizures came in waves:
- Kogi: 4.7 tonnes of skunk intercepted; kingpin arrested in Jos.
- Cross River: Couple caught with another 4.7-tonne stash.
- Edo: Two women running an online drug-brownie business arrested.
- Enugu: Skunk, opioids and 3,000 rounds of ammunition seized.
- Kebbi: 13,155 bottles of codeine recovered from a warehouse.
- Niger & FCT: Cannabis and thousands of opioid pills intercepted.
- Lagos: Raids in Lekki and Lagos Island uncovered Canadian Loud, Colorado, skunk and drug-laced brownies hidden in apartments and branded containers.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), said the intensified push is designed to outsmart cartels ahead of the festive season.
“We know the holidays are a high-risk window. We will not drop our guard,” he said.
The agency also extended its WADA anti-drug campaign to schools, churches, and communities nationwide.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi released the operation details on Sunday.
