NDLEA busts opioid trafficking network, arrests suspects across six states

By Kingsley Omonobi

ABUJA — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has dismantled an opioid trafficking network and intercepted large quantities of illicit drugs concealed in building materials in Taraba State, alongside coordinated arrests across Ebonyi, Imo, Edo, Kano and Gombe states.

The agency also confirmed the arrest of a 75-year-old suspect in Ebonyi State and several others, including female drug dealers, during nationwide operations.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said operatives made a major breakthrough in Taraba on Saturday, June 6, 2026, following credible intelligence that led to the interception of a truck transporting building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo.

He said a search conducted at the Nukkai Timber Shade in Jalingo led to the discovery of large quantities of drugs concealed under the cargo. A 22-year-old suspect, Buhari Abdullahi, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Items recovered from the truck included 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 pills of rohypnol, and 299 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.

In Ebonyi State, operatives arrested a 75-year-old suspect, Okebe Samuel, in Okposi, where he was found in possession of 300 grams of skunk allegedly packaged for retail distribution.

In Imo State, NDLEA operatives raided a drug hotspot at Umulolo, Orlu, arresting 32-year-old Chioma Okeke and recovering 8 kilograms of skunk.

In Edo State, a series of raids across Benin City on Tuesday, June 2, led to the arrest of four suspects, including three women.

At Uyosa, Benin City, Chioma Igba (24) and Precious Ozomah (22) were arrested with quantities of skunk, Loud, and methamphetamine. Along Agbor Road, another suspect, Anita Abraham (21), was arrested with substances identified as Loud variants. At Upper Mission, Benin City, Henry Okey (43) was also arrested with multiple psychotropic substances.

In Kano State, operatives on Thursday, June 4, arrested 19-year-old Saifullahi Lawan in the Kafi area of Madobi with 40 blocks of skunk weighing 38 kilograms.

In Gombe State, operatives on Monday, June 1, intercepted 28-year-old Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi near Dantiti Plaza in Tumfure with 15,000 capsules of tramadol.

The NDLEA also said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued nationwide, with sensitisation lectures held in schools across Oyo, Lagos, Anambra, and Kano states, among others.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers involved in the operations across the affected states for what he described as sustained efforts in both drug supply and demand reduction strategies.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks nationwide, regardless of the age, gender, or concealment methods of suspects.

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