History has been made through the NDLEA’s relentless commitment to protecting the nation. Five years on from when the agency recorded its landmark first seizure of Captagon at Lagos’ Apapa seaport, operatives have once again intercepted a consignment of the lethal substance, this time in Kwara State.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, released a statement on Sunday, April 26, where he said Captagon produces a dangerous euphoria. This “terror drug” puts the public in jeopardy, allowing users to stay awake for days, making them fearless, and predisposing them to reckless behavior. Babafemi noted that its trade is controlled by ISIS-linked militias, generating revenue for weapons and used as a stimulant to keep combatants fighting on the front lines.
The statement further explained: “The latest seizure of Captagon, which street value costs as much as $25 a pill, was made on Tuesday, 21st April 2026, when NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu road, Kwara State, intercepted a trailer conveying passengers. A search conducted on one of the passengers, 33-year-old Nasiru Mu’azu, led to the recovery of 10 packs of Captagon consisting of 10,000 pills and nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg.”
In another successful operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted a trailer at the Bode Saadu patrol point on Friday, April 24. A thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of over 150,000 tramadol capsules and various opioids concealed in a hidden compartment. A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, has been taken into custody in connection with the sophisticated smuggling attempt.
In a sophisticated smuggling attempt, 33-year-old Eze Prince Emeka was intercepted by NDLEA officers on
the Ibadan-Oyo Expressway while travelling to Sokoto by bus. After a body scan confirmed he was carrying “internal cargo,” the suspect excreted 45 pellets of cocaine (1.043kg) under close observation. Emeka confessed to using road travel to bypass airport detectors, with plans to re-ingest the pellets in Sokoto before crossing the Sahara via Algeria, destined for the European market.
Another major win for the NDLEA! In Edo State, officers intercepted a staggering 1,196,000 opioid pills hidden in a truck bound for Onitsha, leading to the arrest of two suspects. The agency’s nationwide heat didn’t stop there Saturday also saw the arrest of Rasheed Ibuowo in Lagos with 810kg of high-grade cannabis, while earlier in the week, Muktar Bello was caught in Bauchi with 288 blocks of skunk.
The NDLEA’s reach extended to Ekiti State this week, where officers stormed a residence on Ilaro Street to seize 466.8kg of skunk destined for Yola. The homeowner, Layit John Matthew, was taken into custody. Further south, a massive “search and destroy” mission in Cross River State saw 20,000kg of cannabis torched across eight hectares of farmland. Backed by military support, the raid in Uyanga also netted an additional 170kg of processed drugs ready for distribution.
In a precision strike against insecurity, NDLEA operatives intercepted 394 IED components along the Kontagora/Zuru road in Niger State on Wednesday, April 22. The suspect, 26-year-old Mohammed Aliyu, was caught transporting the explosive materials in a red Toyota (KNT 617 AE) destined for Shadadi, Mariga LGA; both the suspect and the seized exhibits are being transferred to the relevant security agency for further investigation.
Maintaining that same momentum, NDLEA commands nationwide intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative over the past week. These high-impact sensitization efforts reached schools, workplaces, worship centers, and local communities, reinforcing the Agency’s commitment to a drug-free society.
Key highlights from the past week include WADA enlightenment lectures at Mallam Salisu Islamic School (Niger State), Madarasatul Abdulrahman Bin Auf (Kano), and Sani Zango Daura Model Primary School (Katsina), alongside engagements with community associations in Badagry, Lagos. In a high-level strategic move, the Zonal Commander for Zone 4, ACGN Bridget Viashiama, led a senior delegation on a WADA advocacy visit to the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule.
Commending the officers of the Kwara, Oyo, Edo, Cross River, Bauchi, Ekiti, Niger, and Lagos Commands for their recent successes, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) lauded the strategic balance between aggressive drug supply reduction and impactful WADA sensitization. He further charged the entire workforce nationwide to remain relentless and sustain this winning momentum in the fight against drug trafficking.
He lauded the tactical precision of the operatives behind the Kwara State interception of 10,000 Captagon pills, describing the bust as a decisive blow to drug syndicates. He further noted that the seizure effectively dismantled an attempted revival of a trafficking pipeline that has remained largely dormant since the Agency’s landmark discovery at the Apapa Seaport five years ago.
Marwa described the seizure as a vital “wake-up call,” noting that Captagon—a potent amphetamine often used by insurgent groups to inhibit fear and fatigue—remains a primary target for traffickers looking to fuel insecurity. He declared: “We are not just seizing pills; we are disrupting the fuel that powers violence in our communities. Our operatives remain on high alert across all frontiers to ensure this illicit trade finds no foothold.”
