The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a massive consignment of illicit drugs worth over N6.5 billion at seaports in Lagos and Rivers States. The operation also led to the arrest of two British nationals and their Nigerian accomplices in Lagos.
At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, and the Apapa Port in Lagos, NDLEA officers uncovered six million pills of opioids—Tamol 225mg, Tapentadol 225mg, and Carisoprodol 225mg—along with 332,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup. The seizure followed the tracking of newly identified trafficking routes and a directive for 100 percent inspection of suspect containers.
In Rivers State, NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed:
“The consignments at the Port Harcourt Ports—six million pills of opioids and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup—were uncovered in two containers on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th May 2025 during a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies.”
A separate interception at Apapa Port in Lagos yielded 170,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup on Thursday 22nd May.
In a related operation, two British nationals—Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon—were apprehended at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while attempting to smuggle 92 bags of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 51.10kg into the country.
Alexander was intercepted upon arrival on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, based on intelligence surveillance. NDLEA operatives monitored him to the airport car park, where Adejuwon, also a Nigerian-British national, waited in an SUV with Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and a driver, Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami.
“They were arrested with the drug exhibits as they attempted to leave the airport. Alexander confessed he was recruited during his vacation and promised £1,300 for a successful delivery,” said Babafemi.
A follow-up raid at their Lekki apartment resulted in the recovery of N3.81 million, N93,000, 17,200 South African Rand, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four nitrous oxide canisters.
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives destroyed 75,000kg of cannabis in farms across Cross River and Edo States.
“At Esuk-Odot village in Odukpani LGA, Cross River State, NDLEA agents destroyed cannabis farms spanning 30 hectares and recovered 200kg of skunk,” Babafemi revealed.
Another 1,957.5kg of skunk was destroyed in the Ohosu and Okhuse forests in Edo State.
In Nasarawa, two men—Sunday Daniel, 51, and Abu Peter, 30—were arrested with 4,000kg of skunk hidden under unprocessed wood. In a related case, Godwin Obi, 39, was caught with 154.5kg of skunk in Karu.
Patrols in Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, Niger, and Lagos led to further seizures. Highlights include:
57,750 pills of tramadol and diazepam seized from Muhammad Hamza, 22, along the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway.
45kg of skunk intercepted from Usman Muhammad, 45, in Bauchi.
55 parcels of Colorado cannabis intercepted in Yobe from a suspect en route to Chad.
97kg of cannabis seized from a Mercedes Benz car in Niger State.
Cocaine, methamphetamine, molly, codeine, and nitrous oxide recovered from suspects in Lekki, Lagos.
NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy. Lectures were held at secondary schools in Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Adamawa, and Kano. Lagos Command visited the Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Muhammadu Bambado.
Commending the officers, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), stated:
“Our officers across the country have maintained a commendable balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction. These results reflect our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from the menace of drug abuse and trafficking.”
