Nigeria's Narcotics Crackdown: India-Bound Businessman Busted with N3.6bn Cocaine!

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recently made significant arrests and seizures across various states, disrupting illicit drug trade networks. Among those apprehended is 48-year-old businessman Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, who was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos. Nwankwo was attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India, when 1.550 kilograms of cocaine were discovered cleverly concealed within the side walls and railings of his check-in bag.

Nwankwo, a marble dealer in Lagos, confessed to liquidating all his assets, including his business, to raise N23 million for the cocaine consignment, hoping to sell it in India for N100 million. His dream of becoming a 'drug kingpin' was shattered upon his arrest, and he now remains in custody awaiting prosecution.

In other major operations, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, raided a warehouse at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos. This raid, conducted between Friday, August 7th and Saturday, August 8th, 2026, led to the discovery of a massive stockpile of codeine-based syrup, totaling 3,776 cartons or 377,600 bottles, with an estimated street value exceeding N2.6 billion.

Another intelligence-led operation on Wednesday, August 14th, targeted the residence of 55-year-old kingpin Shoremi Kayode at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja, Lagos. Operatives recovered 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at N972 million. Additionally, a Mercedes-Benz car and a Toyota Corolla car were seized from the suspect.

Across other regions, the NDLEA also recorded substantial successes. In Kwara State, on Thursday, August 13th, Abubakar Adamu (50) and Bilyaminu Nuhu (30) were arrested in the Kam Wire area of Ilorin with 55.96kg of skunk found in a truck. On the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Oyo State, two suspects, 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and Abdulrauf Ajadi (50), were apprehended on Wednesday, August 12th. Their Toyota Sienna vehicle contained 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.

Further operations on Thursday, August 13th, along the Onitsha/Asaba expressway led to the arrest of Osaro Ikpoba (43) and Samuel Godbless (18). From them, officers recovered 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection. On Wednesday, August 12th, along the Kwale/Ozoro expressway, Emeka Tony (50) was nabbed with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million in cash.

In Plateau State, a Toyota Corolla car with registration number MKD 341 EA was intercepted along the Riyom/Jos road, leading to the arrest of Kasum Sherif and the recovery of 239,490 caps of Tramaforce, a brand of Tramadol.

Kano State saw extensive operations. On Monday, August 10th, six suspects—Okodili Ibeabuchi (60), Onyeka Vincent (47), Nwanko Wisdom (36), Success Chigozie (30), Emmanuel Jude (27), and Chinedu Peter (39)—were arrested along the Zaria-Kano road. Large consignments of opioids, including 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol, and others, along with 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup, and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, were recovered. Additionally, on Friday, August 14th, NDLEA operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu, Kumbotso LGA, recovering 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg and arresting Mustapha Iliya (30) and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid (24).

In Edo State, efforts focused on drug supply reduction included the destruction of 4,628.9775kg of skunk on two cannabis farms measuring 1.851591 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest, Orhionmwon LGA. During a raid on Wednesday, August 12th, Agholor Elebojie (40) was arrested on one of the farms. Furthermore, Kingsley Anigala (28) was apprehended with 25.857kg of Loud and 93 grams of methamphetamine during a raid of drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City on Friday, August 14th.

Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA's War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities continued nationwide, with sensitisation lectures delivered to schools like Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi'u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos State. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and personnel from the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo, and Delta Commands for their successful arrests and seizures, also praising all commands for balancing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.