NDLEA Arrests India-Bound Businessman with Cocaine, Recovers N3.6bn Drugs in Lagos

Oru Leonard 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, with 1.550 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in the walls and railings of his travel bag while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.

The suspect, who deals in marbles in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

According to the NDLEA, Nwankwo confessed that he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise ₦23 million to purchase the cocaine consignment, hoping to sell it in India for as much as ₦100 million.

His arrest was one of several major operations conducted by NDLEA operatives across Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta states in the past week, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of cocaine, cannabis, opioids, codeine-based syrup and other controlled substances.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse in a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

The seizure, made between Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, was valued at more than ₦2.6 billion.

In another operation in Lagos on Wednesday, August 14, operatives raided the residence of a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, at Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja.

The raid led to the recovery of 324 kilogrammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at ₦972 million. Two vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla, were also recovered.

In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway arrested 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and 50-year-old Abdulrauf Ajadi.

The suspects were intercepted in a Toyota Sienna marked FFA-115KA, from which operatives recovered 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.

In Kwara State, two suspects, Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were arrested at Kam Wire area of Ilorin on Thursday, August 13, with 55.96 kilogrammes of skunk found in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.

Meanwhile, in Delta State, NDLEA operatives intercepted Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway.

Recovered from the suspects were 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of Rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.

Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway with 1,244 pieces of cartridges and ₦8 million in cash.

In Kano State, six suspects were arrested on Monday, August 10, during a patrol operation along the Zaria-Kano Road.

The suspects were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.

NDLEA said operatives recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, Rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360 grammes of cocaine, 99.8 grammes of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7 kilogrammes of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

Also in Kano, operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on Friday, August 14, recovering 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8 kilogrammes.

Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke Forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested during the raid on one of the farms.

In another operation at drug joints in Oluku, Benin City, on Friday, August 14, operatives arrested 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala with 25.857 kilogrammes of Loud and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.

In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla marked MKD 341 EA along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol.

A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

The NDLEA also said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued across the country, with sensitisation lectures delivered to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos, among other locations.

Commenting on the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and personnel of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands for their efforts.

Marwa also praised NDLEA commands across the country for maintaining what he described as a fair balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.

The latest operations, according to the agency, underscore its intensified campaign against the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs and controlled substances across Nigeria.

Source: Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, issued the statement on Sunday, August 16, 2026.