NDLEA Raids 3 Drug Warehouses in Lagos, Seizes Opioids Worth N16.9bn
Oru Leonard
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and raided three illicit drug warehouses in the Okota area of Lagos, recovering opioids valued at over N16.9 billion in a major crackdown on pharmaceutical drug trafficking.
The intelligence-led operations, carried out on Friday, 17 April 2026, targeted locations within Park View Estate, Ago Palace, Okota. The warehouses—concealed within residential buildings at 98 Olukayode Awofisayo Street and 5 Charles Ndumetu Street—were found to be stocked with massive quantities of controlled substances.
Recovered during the raids were 2,360,000 pills of high-potency tramadol (225mg) and 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup. The seizures were contained in 34 cartons of tramadol and 19,094 cartons of codeine, bringing the total estimated street value to N16,927,200,000.
Reacting to the operation, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the raid as a significant blow to the pharmaceutical black market and a decisive disruption of a major drug syndicate.
“This recovery—nearly 4.3 million units of dangerous substances—demonstrates that our officers are consistently staying ahead of criminal networks,” Marwa said. “The concealment of such volumes within residential estates highlights both the audacity of these cartels and the strength of our intelligence capabilities.”
He commended NDLEA operatives for their professionalism and precision, noting that the success reflects the agency’s unwavering commitment to combating substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking nationwide.
Marwa also issued a stern warning to drug cartels, stressing that no location is beyond the agency’s reach. “Whether hidden in upscale estates or remote warehouses, there will be no safe haven. We will continue to degrade your financial base, dismantle your networks, and bring offenders to justice,” he declared.
The NDLEA reiterated its resolve to sustain momentum in its nationwide offensive against drug trafficking and abuse, urging members of the public to support ongoing efforts through timely information sharing.
