NDLEA Strikes Hard: Drug Kingpins Arrested in Lagos, Consignments to Terrorists Intercepted Nationwide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a significant breakthrough in its anti-narcotics campaign, arresting two suspected drug kingpins in Lagos and seizing a large cache of illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. The high-value operation followed weeks of intensive intelligence gathering across multiple states.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the successful operations in a detailed statement released on Sunday, outlining the scale and breadth of the seizures.

In the first Lagos operation, 64-year-old Victor Nwosa was apprehended on September 17, 2025, at his residence in Okota. Operatives recovered a substantial amount of illicit drugs, including 4.33 kilograms of heroin and 448 grams of cocaine from his property. This was quickly followed by the arrest of another key suspect, 49-year-old Felix Chika Obiegbu, who was taken into custody on September 11, 2025, at his home in Aguda, Surulere. From Obiegbu’s location, NDLEA officers recovered 2.9 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Beyond the major Lagos arrests, the NDLEA also succeeded in foiling crucial attempts to transport dangerous drugs intended for criminal elements, including terrorists and bandits, operating in the North-East region of the country. This effort to cut off supply to insurgents highlights the agency’s vital role in national security.

Specifically, in Borno State, on September 27, 2025, NDLEA operatives at Njimtilo village intercepted a Mercedes Benz GLK. Following a thorough search, the vehicle’s engine compartment was found to be a hiding place for a large consignment of illicit pills, including 39,380 pills of tramadol 225mg and Exol-5. The driver, 26-year-old Baba Kaka Ibrahim, was arrested at the scene.

On the same day, efforts in Yobe State resulted in the arrest of a woman, Halima Adamu, on the Damaturu-Maiduguri road. She was found in possession of 39 parcels of Colorado, weighing 1.4kg, which she had concealed within her travel bag. A subsequent follow-up operation, based on intelligence gathered from her arrest, led to the apprehension of another female suspect, Habiba Muhammad, in Maiduguri.

The anti-narcotics drive extended to several other states, securing further arrests and major seizures. In Kano State, two suspects, 27-year-old Aliyu Sani and 26-year-old Yahaya Tata, were arrested with 30,030 pills of tramadol. Down south in Bayelsa State, three men were apprehended at Swali Jetty with a consignment that included 12kg of skunk and 50 live cartridges, indicating a link to illegal arms proliferation.

Furthermore, in Edo State, the NDLEA launched a significant raid where operatives successfully destroyed over 24 tonnes of cannabis that had been cultivated across nearly 10 hectares of farmland in the Uromi and Ogu forests. Suspects were arrested during the operation, and a separate intercept involved a truck conveying 1,025kg of skunk, which was ingeniously concealed within bags of charcoal.

The Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded the dedication of the officers and men of the agency for the highly successful and multi-faceted operations. He emphasized that the significant arrests and seizures across the country underscore the agency’s unwavering commitment to not only disrupting drug supply lines but also protecting public health and fortifying national security against the threats posed by illicit drug money and abuse.