Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, arresting four members in intelligence-led operations. The operation led to the seizure of multi-million-naira worth of tramadol pills concealed in the bumpers and false bottoms of Sienna buses heading to border towns.
Following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance by operatives of NDLEA’s Directorate of Intelligence, a Sienna bus with registration number ABJ 452 HG was intercepted along the Nasarawa-Toto road in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, at 6:00 AM. Two suspects, Zahradeen Adamu (27) and Abubakar Usman (44), were arrested in the vehicle, which was traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State, en route to Yola, Adamawa State. A second Sienna bus, driven by Abba Usman (48), was also intercepted.
During a thorough search of both vehicles, NDLEA operatives uncovered specially constructed steel compartments behind the back bumpers and in the spare tyre compartments. A total of 190,960 tramadol pills were recovered from these hidden compartments.
Further investigation revealed that Kingsley Mbaeri, a drug dealer based in Onitsha, Anambra State, supplied the seized tramadol consignment. A swift follow-up operation led to Mbaeri’s arrest at his residence on Uga Street, Onitsha, on January 29, 2025. Two vehicles, a Toyota Corolla (FGG 948 MF) and a Toyota Sienna (GWA 23 HH), were also recovered from his home.
Other major drug interceptions
In another interdiction, NDLEA operatives from the Intelligence Department intercepted a commercial bus traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State, at the Abaji checkpoint, FCT Abuja, on February 4, 2025. A passenger, Chimezie Henry Ojingwa (32), was found carrying motor spare parts in a black bag. Upon searching the bag, operatives discovered:
- 404.47 grams of methamphetamine
- 506.49 grams of Loud (a synthetic cannabis strain)
- 262.32 grams of dimethyl sulfone (a precursor for meth production)
The substances were carefully concealed within the motor spare parts.
In Cross River State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Ogoja-Abakaliki Road in Yahe intercepted a truck driven by Paul Chukwudi (31) on February 13, 2025. A total of 170,000 tramadol pills were recovered from the vehicle.
At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, operatives uncovered 85,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup in a container imported from India on February 11, 2025.
In Borno State, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Halilu Isa and Gambo Umaru, along Bama Road in Maiduguri on February 14, 2025. They were caught with 60 compressed blocks of skunk (a potent cannabis strain) weighing 72kg.
Meanwhile, in Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives raided a notorious drug joint on Iloda Street, Ikole-Ekiti, on February 11, 2025, arresting three suspects:
- Bala Muhammed (57)
- Yahaya Adamu (55)
- Abdullahi Shehu (30)
A total of 83 kilograms of skunk were recovered from them.
In Lagos, a 28-year-old suspect, Samiat Olabisi Yussuf, was arrested on February 15, 2025, at her home in Lekki. During the raid, NDLEA operatives seized 169.5 liters of nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) and 111 grams of Loud.
In Taraba State, two suspects, Ibrahim Usman (40) and Solomon James (40), were arrested with a combined 132.84 kilograms of skunk. Usman was caught in Wukari with 88kg of Arizona and Ghana Loud, while James was nabbed with 44.84kg of the same substance in Takanaba, Sabongari, Jalingo LGA.
NDLEA expands drug awareness campaigns
Across the country, NDLEA Commands have continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to schools, workplaces, religious centers, and traditional institutions. Recent activities include:
- Sensitization at Government Technical College, Oku, Akwa Ibom
- Lectures at Future Leaders Academy, Kishi, Oyo State
- Awareness sessions at Government Secondary School, Bashire, Sokoto
- Engagement at Ehere Comprehensive School, Ogbor Hill, Abia
- Outreach at Government Day Secondary School, Taura, Jigawa State
- Drug education at Jesuit College, Agbado Ekiti, Ekiti State
- A special enlightenment lecture for married women in purdah at Markaz Umar Bn Khattab Centre, Kano
NDLEA chairman commends officers
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended the Directorate of Intelligence, Apapa, Cross River, Borno, Ekiti, Taraba, and Lagos Commands for their successful arrests and drug seizures over the past week. He also praised NDLEA personnel nationwide for intensifying their WADA sensitization efforts, ensuring that advocacy messages reach every corner of the country.
