The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a massive consignment of illicit drugs valued at over ₦6.5 billion at Nigeria’s seaports in Lagos and Rivers states, while also arresting two British nationals attempting to smuggle cannabis through the Lagos airport.
The seizure includes more than six million pills of opioids—including Tamol, Tapentadol, and Carisoprodol—as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup. NDLEA operatives discovered the drugs at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, and the Apapa seaport, Lagos, following intelligence-led tracking of new trafficking routes.
The drugs were concealed in multiple containers that were placed under watch and subjected to 100 percent examination between May 19 and 22.
Meanwhile, two British men—Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon—along with two Nigerian accomplices, were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. They attempted to smuggle 92 bags of “Loud” cannabis, weighing over 51kg, into the country.
Alexander arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha and was monitored to a waiting SUV where his co-conspirators were apprehended. A subsequent raid on their Lekki apartment uncovered ₦3.8 million cash, foreign currencies, digital devices, and laughing gas canisters.
In ongoing operations nationwide:
- NDLEA destroyed 75,000kg of cannabis on 30 hectares of farmland in Cross River State, recovering an additional 200kg.
- In Edo State, nearly 2,000kg of skunk was destroyed in two major forests.
- In Nasarawa, two suspects were arrested with 4,000kg of skunk concealed under wood in a truck.
- A 39-year-old man was caught with 154.5kg of cannabis in Karu.
- In Kaduna, a young man was caught with over 57,000 pills of tramadol and diazepam.
- NDLEA arrested a suspect in Bauchi with 45kg of skunk and another in Yobe smuggling 2kg of Colorado to Chad.
- In Niger State, 97kg of cannabis was seized from a car en route to Jebba.
- In Lagos, raids in Lekki and Ibeju-Lekki led to arrests and seizures of various drugs, including cocaine, meth, and 48kg of skunk.
The agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign also continued with sensitization lectures in schools across Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Adamawa, and Kano, alongside a visit to the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s commands for their continued success in reducing drug supply and demand across Nigeria.
