In a massive nationwide crackdown, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have smashed a syndicate of drug barons, intercepting over 1.3 million pills of opioids and 6,000 kilograms of potent cannabis strains. The colossal haul, valued at over ₦3.4 billion, was recovered during a series of high-stakes operations spanning Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo, and the FCT.
According to a statement released on Sunday, 20 September 2026, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the crown jewel of the operations was the spectacular interception of 1,200 parcels of “Canadian Loud”—a high-grade synthetic cannabis strain weighing 603.75 kilograms and worth a staggering ₦1.81 billion. The sweep also unmasked a veteran drug courier who routinely posed as a senior police officer to smuggle contraband across state lines.
The 49-year-old imposter, Innocent Ekpe, was intercepted on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, by NDLEA operatives along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State. Concealed inside his silver Toyota Sienna bus was 292.48 kilograms of skunk. Investigations revealed that Ekpe had long operated under the alias “Godwin Emeka,” masquerading as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and using a forged ID card to breeze through security checkpoints. His 39-year-old accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested at the scene.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on actionable intelligence stormed an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, exposing it as a front for a major drug ring. Officers arrested the 45-year-old mechanic, Matthew Ossai, after recovering 48 kilograms of Canadian Loud and 152 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside a metal storage box.
Down in Lagos, a high-stakes game of patience paid off at the Tin-Can Island Port. Following a tip-off, NDLEA operatives placed a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, under intensive surveillance after its arrival on 12 September.
On Wednesday, 16 September, a joint physical examination by the NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies blew the case wide open. Hidden deep inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles packed within the container were 31 black jumbo bags, stuffed to the brim with the 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud.
The multi-state offensive shifted into high gear in Niger State on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, when NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa LGA, intercepted a lethal cargo. Three young suspects—Bashir Usman (20), Abubakar Nuhu (18), and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab (18)—were arrested after officers discovered two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a locally made pistol, two magazines, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition hidden inside a black travel bag.
Days later, on Friday, 18 September, the Abaji-Abuja Highway became the flashpoint for another massive bust. Operatives flagged down a vehicle carrying Aminu Isyaku (23) and Jamilu Habibu (25), uncovering over 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets, codeine syrup, methamphetamine, and Exol tablets. The narcotics, stuffed into eight sacks, were en route from Onitsha, Anambra State, destined for Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
Lagos remained a hotbed of intense operational activity. On Friday, 18 September, operatives stormed a residence in Aguda, Surulere, arresting Onyeka Ofor with 48,900 high-potency tramadol 225mg pills.
Meanwhile, a raid on a local logistics company led to the seizure of seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59 kilograms, landing suspect Luke Ugokwe in custody. This followed the Thursday, 17 September arrest of Ibrahim Hudu (43) at Apongbo, who was caught transporting 998.38 kilograms of illicit nitrous oxide gas (popularly known as laughing gas).
The anti-narcotics net expanded across the country as the week drew to a close:
- Gombe State: Operatives recovered a total of 154,480 tramadol capsules on Friday, 18 September, arresting Sabi’u Umar (27) in the Barunde area and Hassana Muhammad (19) at the Gombe Main Market.
- Imo State: Ifesinachi Godwin (25) was intercepted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road on Friday, 18 September, with 43.85 kilograms of skunk.
- Ondo State: A major enforcement raid on Tuesday, 15 September, dismantled a two-hectare cannabis farm deep within the Ita-Ogbolu Forest. Operatives destroyed 5,000 kilograms of skunk and arrested four suspects—Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday, and Ability Peter Sunday—while recovering 48 kilograms of fresh and dry cannabis as evidence
Paralleling these high-stakes enforcement operations, NDLEA commands across the federation sustained their aggressive War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
Throughout the past week, the agency deployed sensitization and advocacy teams to schools, worship centers, workplaces, and local communities, reinforcing their grassroots defense against the drug epidemic.
Key highlights of the grassroots campaign included high-impact WADA enlightenment lectures delivered to students and faculty at St. Ferdinand School in Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School in Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School in Epe, Lagos State; and the Government Technical Training School in Jalingo, Taraba State.
In a parallel high-level engagement, the Delta Ports Command of the agency took its advocacy straight to traditional leadership, paying a strategic WADA visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, the Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom in Delta State, among several others.
Reacting to the massive operational breakthroughs, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), highly commended the officers and men of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo, and FCT Commands.
Praising their unwavering professionalism and intelligence-driven execution, Marwa urged operatives across all commands nationwide to sustain the momentum.
He emphasized the critical importance of maintaining the agency’s current balanced approach—aggressively coupling relentless enforcement operations with proactive drug abuse prevention campaigns.
