By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia Reporter
A 48-YEAR-OLD businessman has been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while attempting to board a flight to New Delhi, India, with 1.550kg of cocaine concealed in his bag.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, who deals in marbles in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to India.
NDLEA personnel’s search of his check-in bag uncovered 1.550kg of cocaine factory-fitted into the side walls and railings.
Onyebuchi said he sold his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the ₦23 million he paid for the consignment, which he expected to sell in India for as much as ₦100 million.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a warehouse within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace, Okota, Lagos, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at more than ₦2.6 billion.
The seizure was made between Friday, 7 August, and Saturday, 8 August 2026.
Operatives also raided the residence of a 55-year-old suspect, Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja, Lagos, on 14 August, recovering 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a street value of ₦972 million.
A Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla were also recovered from the suspect.
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, at Kam Wire in Ilorin on 13 August with 55.96kg of skunk recovered from a truck marked DKA 350 XL.
Officers also arrested 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State, on 12 August.
Recovered from their Toyota Sienna, marked FFA-115KA, were 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.
Along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway, operatives arrested Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, on 13 August and recovered 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 on 12 August with 1,244 pieces of cartridges and ₦8 million recovered as a monetary exhibit.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla with registration number MKD 341 EA along the Riyom-Jos Road, where they recovered 239,490 caps of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol, and arrested a suspect, Kasum Sherif.
In Kano, six suspects were arrested on 10 August along the Zaria-Kano Road. They were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60, Onyeka Vincent, 47, Nwanko Wisdom, 36, Success Chigozie, 30, Emmanuel Jude, 27, and Chinedu Peter, 39.
The operatives recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids, as well as 360g of cocaine, 99.8g of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters, said in a press statement on Sunday, 16 August 2026, that operatives also raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano on 14 August.
The operation led to the recovery of 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg and the arrest of Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,628.9775kg of skunk on two cannabis farms measuring 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku-Igbanke Forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested on one of the farms during the raid on 12 August.
Operatives also arrested Kingsley Anigala, 28, during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City on 14 August, recovering 25.857kg of Loud and 93g of methamphetamine.
The agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities continued across the country during the week, including sensitisation lectures for students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School in Ajah, Lagos State.
As always, 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 the arrests and seizures.
He also praised personnel in commands across the country for pursuing what the agency described as a fair balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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