By:Adeosun Ewatomi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have dismantled no fewer than six syndicates, seizing tonnes of assorted illicit drugs and arresting nine kingpins in a series of intelligence-led interdiction operations, following a crackdown on drug trafficking organisations across the country.
In one of the operations, NDLEA officers on Tuesday 18th November 2025 arrested two members of a drug trafficking organisation in Onitsha, Anambra State, after they attempted to take delivery of 5.40 kilograms of methamphetamine; 10.70 kilograms of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis; 16 grams of cocaine; 200 grams of phenacetin; 200 grams of methcathinone and 100 grams of caffeine concealed in pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi made this known in a statement on Sunday.According to him, the first suspect, 30-year-old electrical appliances dealer Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, was arrested when he arrived at a logistics company in Onitsha to collect the consignment. Shortly afterwards, another member of the syndicate, 51-year-old South Africa returnee Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, also showed up and was arrested.
Babafemi disclosed that the consignments had arrived at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja-Lagos, with airway bill number 118-12882973 on a Tag-Angola flight from South Africa on 13th November 2025 and were immediately seized following credible intelligence.
A follow-up sting operation was then executed in Onitsha, Anambra State, leading to the arrest of the recipients: Uzochukwu and Ndibuisi.In another Lagos airport operation on Thursday 20th November, NDLEA operatives intercepted a brake servo automobile part used to conceal 48 pellets and a block of cocaine weighing 2.30 kilograms, hidden among other auto parts destined for Gabon.
Following the arrest of a freight agent, Ameh Solomon, who presented the shipment for export, a follow-up operation at the ASMPDA market in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos, led to the arrest of an auto parts dealer, Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface.
In Kogi State, operatives on Monday 17th November intercepted a trailer conveying 4,700 kilograms of skunk at Kabba. Three suspects — Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba and Daniel Danladi — who accompanied the drugs were detained, while a follow-up operation in Jos, Plateau state, on Friday 21st November resulted in the arrest of the kingpin behind the trailer and its illicit cargo, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu.