The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its clampdown on drug trafficking with a major breakthrough in Lagos, leading to the arrest of a notorious drug kingpin and the recovery of large quantities of illicit drugs from various parts of the country.
A statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, July 20, confirmed that NDLEA operatives apprehended 60-year-old Okpara Paul Chigozie, a major figure in a drug cartel who had been on the agency’s wanted list since 2019.
“Operatives of a special operations unit of the NDLEA have arrested a wanted 60-year-old drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, ending seven years of evading the long arm of the law, even as he was caught attempting to ship large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine to the Southeast and other parts of the country,” Babafemi stated.
Chigozie was arrested at his hideout on 72 Michael Ojo Street, Isheri, in the Ojo area of Lagos State after one of his drug shipments was intercepted. Earlier on Sunday, July 13, a white Toyota Sienna van transporting his illicit cargo was stopped at Ilasamaja along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway at approximately 5:45 a.m.
“In the early morning operation, a team of NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence arrested one of Okpara’s couriers, 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi while heading to Onitsha, Anambra state in a white Toyota Sienna vehicle.
“The agency’s sniffer dogs were subsequently brought in to search the vehicle after which 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine were found hidden in body compartments of the space bus,” Babafemi explained.
He added that a follow-up raid on Chigozie’s residence yielded 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine.
In another major operation, NDLEA officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos arrested a passenger, Omoregie Uyiosa, en route to Italy with 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol. He later confessed his intent to sell the drugs abroad.
“In another arrest at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives at the export shed on Thursday, 17th July intercepted 17 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1.70kg concealed in packs of popular cereal, Golden Morn, going to Pakistan as part of a consolidated cargo.
“A suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna, who presented the consignment for shipment, was arrested,” the statement added.
Also in Lagos, the agency raided Sarah Sam Hotels on Ogudu Road, Kosofe, on Saturday, July 19, following intelligence that “party drugs” were being distributed from the premises.
From the hotel room of suspect Obayemi Oyetade, NDLEA recovered 1.3kg of chocolate cannabis, 900 grams of cannabis-infused gummies, and 22.9 grams of skunk. Three vehicles were also confiscated during the raid.
In Kaduna State, operatives arrested three individuals — Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi, and Emmanuel Madu — at Narayi High Cost area in Chikun LGA. Authorities seized 742.866 kilograms of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain.
In Kano, Lawan Rabiu was caught with 36,000 pills of tramadol along the Danbatta-Kazaure road on Wednesday, July 16.
Further operations in Gombe State led to the arrest of Aliyu Abubakar with 25,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 at Gombe roundabout, while Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were intercepted the same day at Kwadom, Yemaltu Deba LGA, in possession of 49 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 29kg.
In Borno State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Baga road, Maiduguri, intercepted 74,360 pills of opioids in a Mercedes Benz C180 with registration number GUB 409 AA. Audu Modu, 44, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
In Bayelsa State, a 63-year-old woman, Akuna Nelson, was arrested on Thursday, July 17, at Osiri area of Yenagoa, after operatives seized 163 litres of skuchies from her.
In Kogi State, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, July 17, arrested four suspects — Ikechukw Abugu, Sunday Ani, Chukwu Christian, and Emmanuel Olisakwe — along the Okene-Lokoja highway. Authorities recovered 2kg of methamphetamine during a search of their vehicle en route from Onitsha to Minna.
Lastly, in Abia State, a notorious drug dealer, Nduka Obi, 39, was arrested on Monday, July 14, at 4 Niger Street, Ugwa Road, Aba. Seized from his base were quantities of tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ₦736,000 in cash.
