Men of the Nigeria anti illicit drugs police, National Dug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have thwarted efforts made by drug kingpin to ship quantities of loud, a strong strain of cannabis from the United States of America, USA to Nigeria.

NDLEA stated that the Lekki based drug kingpin was arrested while trying to take delivery of another shipment of the illicit consignments.

 In a news release on Sunday, NDLEA also stated that an Italy based businessman was arrested over illicit drug shipments to Nigeria and Europe.

Adding that NDLEA destroys 13,198 kilograms skunk in Edo forests; busts drug repackaging factory in Katsina village and  recovered 86,000 pills of opioid with four persons arrested.

Last week, NDLEA had reported that its men intercepted Indian lady with 72 parcels of heroin in chocolate wraps at Kano airport and recovered tramadol pills concealed in gas cylinder, cocaine, skunk during raids in Kano and Lagos.

Details of the news report as presented by the NDLEA Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi reads below in full:

“Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a Lekki-based businessman and proprietor of Damillionz Takeout, Arokodare Damil Ebenezer in connection with the shipment of 60 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, from the United States of America to Nigeria.

The 43-year-old businessman was arrested at Bay Lounge, Admiralty Way, Lekki area of Lagos where he does his illicit drug business on Monday 24th March 2025 while he was expecting to take the delivery of his latest drug consignment.

His arrest followed the seizure of his cargo that arrived Nigeria in seven big cartons at a logistics company in Lagos on 12th March by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation.

After his arrest, he was taken to his Lekki home for a search during which 94grams of the same psychoactive substance, cannabis crusher and other drug paraphernalia were recovered.

This brings the total weight of the drug seized from him to 32.24 kilograms.
In his statement, he claimed he started the illicit drug business in 2017.

Attempt by another businessman Omoruyi Terry to export 1,400 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 800 grams to Italy has also been thwarted by NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

Omoruyi was intercepted at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on his way to Italy via a Qatar Airways flight. Investigation reveals the suspect is an Italy based frequent traveler and logistics agent.

In Katsina, four suspects: Baraka Abubakar, 40; Haruna Alitine, 23; Muhammad Babangida, 20; and Hamisu Lawal, were arrested on Friday 28th March during an intelligence led raid operation at Godai village in Daura Local Government Area where 684 blocks of compressed skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 423kg and 86,000 pills of diazepam were recovered from them.

The three male suspects were arrested while repackaging the diazepam tablets into other containers while Baraka, the female suspect was apprehended with the heaps of skunk in her house.

Not less than 13,198 kilograms of cannabis sativa were destroyed in Edo forests across parts of the state between Monday 24th and Friday 28th March by NDLEA operatives who also evacuated 158kg of same substance for possible prosecution.

The forests where no fewer than four cannabis plantations were discovered and destroyed include: Uhen forest, Ovia North East Local Government Area; Sobe, Owan West Local Government Area; and Amahor forest in Igueben Local Government Area.

In Niger state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road on Friday 28th March intercepted a black Toyota Corolla car marked SLM 137 SV and arrested the two occupants in possession of 179 blocks of compressed skunk with a total weight of 77.6kg concealed in false bottom of the vehicle.

The two suspects are: Paul Christopher, 46, and Lucky Star Anumie. In another operation, 50kg skunk was on Saturday 29th March recovered from the home of a suspect, Isa Iliya, who is currently at large, in Wawa village, Borgu council area of the state.

While 108.5kg of skunk was recovered from lockup shops at Aria New Market, in Enugu metropolis, Enugu state by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 25th March, 25kg of same substance was seized from a suspect Abdulrazak Saka at Kilako Area of Ilorin, Kwara State on Monday 24th March.

Another suspect Suli Saheed, 50, was nabbed with 2.5 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud and 515 grams of Colorado, at Olomi Academy area of Ibadan, Oyo state.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Blessed Martins International School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state; Model Ideal College, Enugu; Oto-Awori Senior Secondary School, Ijanikin, Lagos state; and Command Secondary School, Numan, Adamawa state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Edo, Kwara, Niger, Enugu, Oyo and Katsina Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

He extended eid-el-fitr greetings to them, their families, other stakeholders and Nigerians at large.

“May the spirit of obedience and sacrifice that defines this special day guide and strengthen us as we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a drug-free society. May Allah continue to bless and guide us and may our collective efforts bring us closer to a safer and healthier society for all”, the NDLEA boss added.

Meanwhile, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a 42-year-old Indian lady, Ms. Neetu Neetu at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano, with 72 parcels of heroin factory sealed in wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates.

The class A drug consignment weighing a total of 11 kilograms was recovered from Neetu’s luggage after a thorough search, following processed credible intelligence, during an inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand via Vietnam and Doha at the arrival hall of the Kano airport on Friday 14th March 2025.

The arrest of Neetu signifies a growing attempt by drug trafficking organisations to hire white ladies and foreign nationals to move illicit drugs through the Nigerian borders, a bid that vigilant NDLEA operatives have consistently frustrated with the aid of modern technological tools and proactive intelligence, says Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired) in his immediate reaction to Neetu’s arrest.

In another interdiction operation in Kano, NDLEA officers on Thursday 20th March arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Michael Ogundele with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder at Gadar Tamburawa, along Zaria- Kano road.

Based on credible intelligence, welding tools were later used to cut the giant cylinder after which 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in it were extracted.

While Sunday Ogar, 40, was nabbed at Gunduwawa area of Kano on Wednesday 19th March with 27kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, a female suspect Khadijah Abdullahi, 40, was arrested with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Lungun Bulala Yalwa area of the state on Tuesday 18th March.

In Lagos, the duo of Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa were nabbed with 67.5kg skunk in Mushin just as 100.8kg of same psychoactive substance was recovered from the store of two fleeing suspects in Anifowoshe area of Mushin while Isah Idris was arrested in Apapa with 4.5kg skunk; 600grams of tramadol 225mg and 30litres of codeine syrup on Tuesday 18th March.

Another suspect, Yahaya Mohamed, was arrested same day in Ikotun area of the state with different quantities of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

Across the country, NDLEA Commands and formations continued to intensify their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy sensitization engagements in schools, markets, motor parts, work places and worship centres in the past week.

These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Chrisland School, Ikeja, Lagos; Hakimi Secondary School, Mokwa, Niger state; Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje, Anambra state; Ikole City College, Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti state; Government Day Secondary School, Sunane, Sokoto state; and Government Day Secondary School, Jada, Adamawa state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MAKIA, Lagos, and Kano Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), noted with satisfaction the balance in drug supply and demand reduction efforts of all the formations nationwide, even as he charged them not to relent” stated as reported by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA on
Sunday 23rd and 30th March 2025.