The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the seizure of illicit drugs worth approximately ₦6.5 billion and the arrest of several suspects, including two British nationals and their Nigerian accomplices, in a sweeping operation across Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the drugs were intercepted at key entry points into the country, notably the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Rivers State and Apapa Seaport in Lagos.
The seizures included over six million opioid pills—specifically Tamol 225mg, Tapentadol 225mg, and Carisoprodol 225mg—as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup. The operations were conducted in conjunction with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.
“At the Port Harcourt Port, six million pills and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered during joint inspections on May 19 and 20. A further 170,000 bottles were uncovered at Apapa port on May 22,” Babafemi disclosed.
In a separate operation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested two British citizens, Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, along with Nigerians Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami. They were caught attempting to smuggle 51.10kg of “Loud”, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in 92 bags.
Alexander was tracked after arriving from Doha on a Qatar Airways flight and was followed to the airport car park, where he was intercepted with the Nigerian-British ringleader and others. A subsequent raid on their Lekki residence led to the discovery of ₦3.8 million, South African Rand, electronics, and nitrous oxide canisters.
NDLEA operatives also destroyed large quantities of cannabis in various states. In Cross River, 75,000kg of skunk cultivated on 30 hectares was burned, while an additional 1,957.5kg was destroyed in Edo State forests. In Nasarawa, over 4,000kg of skunk was found hidden beneath timber in a lorry, leading to multiple arrests.
Arrests and seizures continued across other states:
In Kaduna, 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza was nabbed with over 57,000 pills of tramadol and diazepam.
In Bauchi, 45-year-old Usman Muhammad was caught with 45kg of cannabis.
In Yobe, 29-year-old Adum Muhammed was intercepted en route to Chad with 2kg of Colorado cannabis.
In Niger State, 97kg of cannabis was seized from a car on the Mokwa-Jebba Road.
In Lagos, further raids in Osapa London and Ibeju Lekki resulted in the arrest of drug suspects Jonathan Isa and Olamilekan Idowu, along with cocaine, methamphetamine, molly, Rohypnol, and other controlled substances.
Babafemi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug networks and prosecuting all individuals and organisations involved. “This is part of ongoing efforts to track evolving trafficking routes and stop the inflow of harmful substances into the country,” he added.
