The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a Lagos entrepreneur accused of organizing a cocaine smuggling operation to the United Kingdom. This arrest occurred amid a nationwide surge in successful drug interdictions by agency officials.
Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, a 55-year-old garment dealer at Balogun Market, was taken into custody on July 23. His arrest followed the discovery of 3.30kg of cocaine hidden within food packaging at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport export shed. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi stated that the investigation initially caught three cargo agents, whose testimonies led to Kenneth Okakpu and eventually to Chinedu, the alleged mastermind behind the network.
In other significant operations, authorities intercepted 2.80kg of synthetic cannabis in Surulere and seized over 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol from an Indian shipment, valued at over N2.2 billion. At the Apapa Seaport, officers found 2,388.5kg of Canadian Loud hidden inside vehicles within a shipping container, carrying an estimated value of N7.1 billion.
The agency also expanded its reach into national security concerns, recovering military-grade ammunition in Katsina and Kaduna. Mustapha Sani and Abubakar Amadu were arrested for transporting hundreds of rounds of ammunition, some of which were concealed in palm oil containers. These individuals have been turned over to military authorities.
Furthermore, in Edo State, NDLEA agents raided a warehouse, seizing over 1,300kg of cannabis and detaining two suspects. Meanwhile, the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continues with educational outreach in schools across Niger, Kano, and Lagos states. NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa praised the various commands for their diligence, encouraging continued efforts in both enforcement and public awareness.
