The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two alleged drug kingpins in Lagos and seized large consignments of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine being prepared for export to Europe and other destinations.

The arrests, which followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance, were part of a series of operations carried out by NDLEA operatives across several states, leading to multiple seizures, farm destructions, and arrests of suspects linked to drug cartels, terrorists, and bandits.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, September 28, said the suspects, 64-year-old Victor Nwosa and 49-year-old Felix Chika Obiegbu, had been on the agency’s radar for weeks.

While Nwosa posed as a successful textile merchant and Obiegbu was known to many as a wine distributor, investigators discovered they were running a sophisticated drug syndicate.

Nwosa was arrested on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at his home, 16 Femi Kila Street, Okota, where operatives recovered 4.33kg of heroin and 448g of cocaine.

Obiegbu was picked up a week earlier, on Thursday, September 11, at his residence, 5 Shada Shonefun Street, Aguda, Surulere, where a search uncovered 2.9kg of methamphetamine.

Drugs Meant for Terrorists, Bandits Intercepted

In the North-East, NDLEA operatives disrupted attempts to smuggle drugs to terrorists and bandits.

In Borno State, on Saturday, September 27, officers arrested 26-year-old Baba Kaka Ibrahim at Njimtilo village while driving a Mercedes-Benz GLK with registration number JRE 987 AE. A search revealed 39,380 pills of tramadol 225mg and Exol-5 concealed inside the engine compartment.

That same day in Yobe State, a woman, Halima Adamu, was intercepted along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road with 39 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 1.4kg, hidden in the casing of her travelling bag.

A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of another woman, Habiba Muhammad, at her home on Baga Road, Maiduguri, in connection with the consignment.

In Kano State, NDLEA operatives arrested Aliyu Sani (27) and Yahaya Tata (26) along the Zaria-1`Kano road, Gadar Tamburawa, with 30,030 tramadol pills.

In Bayelsa State, three men, Friday Elebechi (35), Tobin Godgift (30), and Aya Clement (30), were arrested at Swali jetty, Yenagoa, on Monday, September 22, after officers recovered 12kg of cannabis skunk and 50 Diana AAA cartridges from them.

In Ekiti State, a 45-year-old ex-convict, Femi Owoeye, also known as “Do Good,” was arrested on Thursday, September 25, at his residence, 24 Oke-Igele Street, Ikere-Ekiti.

He was found with 32kg of cannabis skunk and 10.5g of tramadol. He had previously been sentenced to three years in prison for a similar offence in 2016.

In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested 56-year-old Adedamola Olayeni on Monday, September 22, at the Abuja-Kaduna tollgate. Inside his Honda Pilot jeep with registration number MKA 499 TT, officers found 404 blocks of cannabis skunk weighing 262.6kg.

Two days later, on Wednesday, September 24, Zubairu Haruna (30) was arrested with 506g of methamphetamine at the Gwantu–Fadan Karshi checkpoint. A follow-up operation in Gombe State led to the arrest of the intended receiver of the drugs, 25-year-old Babangida Mohammed.

Raids in Lagos, Abuja and Edo

In Lagos State, no fewer than 85,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids were seized from three suspects – Dauda Abubakar, Abdullahi Umar, and Ismaila Muhammed, at Apapa on Monday, September 22.

The following day in Abuja, Opeyemi Ogundipe (40) was arrested along the Abaji–Gwagwalada expressway with 2.1kg of Colorado.

In Edo State, NDLEA officers destroyed massive cannabis plantations across two forests.

At Uromi forest, Esan West LGA, about 12,115.6kg of cannabis skunk cultivated on 4.8 hectares was destroyed on Tuesday, September 23, while 345.5kg of processed cannabis was evacuated, and two suspects, Ernest Uche (44) and Felix Mugorga (31), were arrested.

At Ogu forest, Igueben LGA, another 12,031.2kg of cannabis was destroyed on Wednesday, September 24, with 106.1kg processed substance recovered.

Separately, on Friday, September 26, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck along Wareke-Auchi road, Etsako West LGA, carrying 82 bags of cannabis weighing 1,025kg concealed in charcoal sacks. Two suspects, Kabiru Abdulahi (35) and Anas Safiyanu (20), were arrested.

Alongside arrests and seizures, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation drives in schools, worship centres, and communities.

Activities last week included enlightenment lectures at RCM Primary School 1, Igboora, Oyo; Champion International Academy, Enugu-Ezike, Enugu; Government Day Secondary School, Babban-Mutum, Katsina; Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Dakata Kawaji, Kano; and Solomon Primary School, Oko Balogun, Epe, Lagos.

In Kogi State, the command paid an advocacy visit to the Ejeh of Ankpa, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Yakubu, to rally community support against drug abuse.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) commended the operatives for their efforts across Lagos, Borno, Yobe, Edo, Kano, Kaduna, FCT, Ekiti, and Bayelsa States.

He said: “The success of the various operations across the country underscores our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from illicit substances that threaten public health and national security. Every gram of these dangerous drugs we seize and remove from our streets and communities reinforces our determination to protect our youths, disrupt criminal networks, and strengthen national security.”

Marwa urged officers to remain committed to the balanced approach of enforcement and sensitisation, stressing that NDLEA would not relent in its battle against drug syndicates and abuse nationwide.