NDLEA Intercepts N3.4bn Worth of Cannabis, Opioids, Arrests Fake Police Officer
Oru Leonard
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have intercepted more than 1.3 million tablets and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, alongside about 6,000kg of cannabis, with a combined street value exceeding N3.4 billion in coordinated operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The agency said the operations, conducted in Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the FCT, also led to the arrest of a man who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to facilitate the movement of illicit drugs.
The NDLEA said 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe was arrested on Wednesday, September 16, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in a silver Toyota Sienna bus.
According to the agency, preliminary investigation revealed that Ekpe had allegedly been parading himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged police identification card to evade security checks while transporting drug consignments across state lines. His alleged accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was also arrested.
In another major operation, NDLEA officers intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion at the Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos.
The consignment, shipped from Montreal, Canada, arrived on September 12 and was placed under surveillance following intelligence received by the agency. During a joint physical examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on September 16, the cannabis was discovered concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded into two Toyota Sienna vehicles in a 40-foot container.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided an auto-repair workshop along Agbor Road, Benin City, where 45-year-old Matthew Ossai was arrested. The agency said 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152g of methamphetamine were recovered from a metal box allegedly used to store the illicit drugs.
The agency also reported a major interception on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, where three young men—Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18—were arrested with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol with magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
In another operation along the Abaji-Abuja highway on September 18, NDLEA operatives arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, with more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets.
The illicit drugs were reportedly concealed in eight sacks and were being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, Onyeka Ofor was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg. Another 59kg of cannabis sativa packed in seven cartons was intercepted at a logistics company, leading to the arrest of Luke Ugokwe.
NDLEA operatives also arrested 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu at Apongbo, Lagos, on September 17, with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.
In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested separately at Barunde and Gombe Main Market.
In Imo State, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk.
Meanwhile, in Ondo State, NDLEA operatives raided and destroyed a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu forest, where about 5,000kg of skunk was destroyed.
Four suspects—Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday—were arrested during the operation, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered for prosecution.
The NDLEA also said its commands nationwide sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns during the week, with outreach programmes held in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency said the activities included sensitisation lectures at St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos; and Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba State.
The Delta Ports Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta State.
Commending the officers and personnel of the Lagos, Tin-Can, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), urged them to sustain what he described as a balanced approach to drug control operations.
Marwa commended the commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven operations, while urging NDLEA personnel nationwide to maintain the momentum in the fight against illicit drugs.
(NDLEA Media. Headquarters, Abuja
September 20, 2026)
