Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine and different opioid substances concealed inside cartons meant for shipment to the United Kingdom and Australia, as the agency intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking and abuse.
According to the agency’s spokesperson, the seizures were made at a courier company in Lagos on Friday, May 15, 2026, during the routine examination of export shipments bound for both countries.
The agency disclosed that 170 grams of cocaine, carefully sealed in cellophane wraps and hidden within the walls of a carton filled with clothes destined for Australia, was recovered during the operation.
In another shipment heading to the United Kingdom, officers discovered various opioid substances concealed inside a separate carton. Recovered items included 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol, and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives arrested a 29-year-old businessman, Ogadi Peter, on Monday, May 11, over alleged production and distribution of drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties and social events within the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said the suspect was apprehended at his residence in the Life Camp area following intelligence reports. During the operation, officers recovered 800 grams of skunk and 2.70 kilograms of drug-infused cookies.
In Delta State, anti-narcotics operatives carried out a raid on Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area on Sunday, May 10, where 27,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated across 11 hectares of farmland were destroyed.
The operation also led to the recovery of 22.9 kilograms of the substance, while a 52-year-old suspect, Ifeanyichukwu Peter, was later arrested during a follow-up operation in Obiaruku.
Similarly, another raid conducted on Tuesday, May 12, at Orogun village in Ughelli North Local Government Area resulted in the destruction of 37,500 kilograms of skunk spread across 15 hectares of farmland. Officers also recovered 55.4 kilograms of the substance and arrested a 30-year-old suspect identified as Godwin Vincent Osadera.
The agency said both operations, carried out with support from security personnel, resulted in the destruction of a combined 65,000 kilograms of skunk.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA officers recovered 361 kilograms of skunk during a raid at Dan Magaji area of Zaria on Wednesday, May 13. A 42-year-old suspect, Husaini Suleiman, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
The agency also disclosed that officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna highway intercepted a large cache of military-grade ammunition on Tuesday, May 12. The suspect and recovered ammunition have since been transferred to another security agency for further investigation.
In Ogun State, officers arrested Aliyu Sani after recovering 181 kilograms of skunk during a raid in the Ogere area on Wednesday, May 13.
In Taraba State, a 27-year-old suspect, Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa, was apprehended on Thursday, May 14, along Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area with 105,850 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam, and Exol-5.
Two suspects identified as Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, were also arrested in Oyo State at Challenge II in Saki town on Thursday, May 14, following the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 1,388.4175 kilograms of skunk during a raid on two farms located within Ago forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area on Friday, May 15.
Meanwhile, in Kano State, intelligence-led operations resulted in the recovery of 1.2 kilograms of tramaking 225mg pills hidden inside a 25-litre jerry can of palm oil at Kofar Ruwa motor park on Monday, May 11.
On the same day, a 35-year-old suspect, Aminu Isa, was arrested at Sabuwar Sharada area with 30.5 kilograms of skunk.
Beyond enforcement operations, NDLEA said it continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools across different states.
Awareness lectures were held for students and staff of institutions including The Apostolic Church Model College, Ijokodo in Oyo State; School of Health Technology, Lambata in Niger State; Yewa Junior High School, Agege in Lagos; Government Secondary School, Yardaje in Katsina State; Igogo Commercial High School in Ekiti State; and Government Girls Secondary School, Magwan in Kano State.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across the affected commands for the successful operations and praised their efforts in maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and public sensitisation initiatives aimed at curbing drug abuse nationwide.
NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine, Opioids Hidden in Export Cartons, Arrests Suspects in Nationwide Drug Crackdown
