Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 33-year-old Mohammed Sani, alias Gamboli, a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro LGA of Niger State. Gamboli, who initially evaded capture three weeks ago, was apprehended in his hideout following actionable intelligence regarding his drug activities.
In a statement released on Sunday, December 14, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the details of the operation.
However, NDLEA operatives first raided Gamboli’s residence at Anguwan Makera, Kuta, on November 20, 2025, where they seized 471.8 kilograms of skunk (a strain of cannabis). While he escaped during the initial raid, a subsequent manhunt, aided by processed intelligence, paid off on Thursday, December 11, when officers traced and arrested him at one of his drug joints in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta. Intelligence reports indicate Gamboli is a major supplier of illicit drugs to local bandit groups.
The statement further stated that in another operation carried out by the agency, operatives of the ”NDLEA in Abia on Thursday 11th December raided a clandestine codeine syrup-manufacturing factory at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, in Osisioma local government area of the state where the operatives recovered a total of 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 1,152.2kg.”
Operatives in Enugu State made significant drug arrests on Thursday, December 11, apprehending two individuals in separate operations. Ossai Emeka, 45, was arrested along the Onitsha-Enugu Ezike road with 7.2kg of skunk. In a related operation, Enoje Agada, 40, was nabbed along the Enugu-Ezike-Ette road with a larger haul of 94.6kg of the same psychoactive substance.
In a series of high-impact counter-narcotics operations, the NDLEA has crippled several distribution points and supply routes across two states.
The crackdown began with a targeted raid on Thursday, December 11, at Ido, Oyo State’s infamous “Beere the California” drug haven. Agents confiscated a cache of illicit substances, including 3.4kg of skunk, 1.6kg of potent Colorado, and 400 grams of methamphetamine. While the kingpin, known as “Idowu the Killer,” evaded capture, suspect Ajibade Faruk was arrested on site.”
However, the momentum continued on Friday, December 12, in Elekuro, Ibadan, where a massive 238.4kg skunk haul led to the arrest of 35-year-old Olusanya Abosede.
Further successes were recorded in Lagos on Wednesday, December 10. At the Seme road Badagry Gbaji checkpoint, the NDLEA intercepted Bashiru Babalola (43) and Ugunwale Ranti (50) attempting to traffic 50,000 pills of high-dose 250mg tramadol.
The positive momentum continued in Ogun State, where the agency made significant inroads. Two suspects, Akinwale Makanjuola and Joseph Owolabi, were arrested at Iperu with 73kg of skunk. A separate operation on Tuesday, December 9, in the Oke Agbede, Imeko area secured the capture of Wasiu Lateef and the confiscation of another 25kg haul of the same illicit substance.
Meanwhile, a critical operation unfolded in Ondo State when NDLEA officers, leveraging credible intelligence, raided a compound in Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area. The Monday, December 10 operation yielded a significant outcome: the arrest of 55-year-old Veronica Obi and her 29-year-old son, Bright Obi. Authorities recovered an enormous haul totaling 1.187 metric tons (1,187 kilograms) of skunk and seeds from the premises.
Additionally, in Edo State, a separate raid operation in the Uroe community, Owan East Local Government Area, led to a significant seizure. On Tuesday, December 9, authorities arrested 44-year-old suspect Ohiomah Igbafe and recovered 461 kilograms of skunk and its seeds from the location.
Gombe State also yielded a success story for the agency. In the Tunfure area, Gombe, officers arrested 50-year-old suspect Muhammed Sani (alias “Sha-Mu-Sha”) on Monday, December 8, seizing 40,000 capsules of tramadol. On the same date at Ashaka Jalingo, another operation led to the apprehension of two suspects: Muhammad Abdullahi (a.k.a “Sakalala”), 52, and Muhammed Hamza (a.k.a “Mamman”), 32, who were found in possession of 56kg of skunk.
Targeting export and import channels, NDLEA operatives at two major Lagos courier companies intercepted six consignments containing 907 pills of various opioids concealed in local black soap and designer wear, bound for the US, Canada, and Sweden.
Also, at the nation’s premier Sea Port, Apapa, Lagos, NDLEA officers on Saturday 13th December intercepted a consignment of 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579kg during a joint examination of a container with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.
In a dedicated push for drug hazard awareness, the agency’s commands and formations intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts this past week. They engaged crucial community pillars—schools, worship centers, workplaces, and local communities.
According to the agency, highlights of these efforts included impactful WADA enlightenment lectures delivered to students and staff at Community Senior Secondary School, Sheme, Katsina; Government College, Tudun Wada Dankade, Kano; and Methodist High School, Makurdi, Benue. While the Enugu state command also drove high-level advocacy by visiting HRM Igwe Ikechukwu Samuel Asadu, Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has lauded the “dexterity” of officers in 11 commands (DOGI, Niger, Abia, Oyo, Enugu, Seme, Ogun, Ondo, Gombe, Apapa, and Edo) for successful arrests and seizures. Marwa urged all personnel to sustain this momentum and the agency’s balanced strategy in the ongoing war against illicit drugs.
Sooth News praises the NDLEA’s relentless fight against drug trafficking, your routine campaign highly commendable, with efforts that reassure the public. We urge the Agency to maintain this exemplary momentum toward a substance-free country.
