By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
ILLICIT DRUG supply chains linked to banditry and transnational trafficking came under renewed pressure as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) carried out coordinated arrests, factory raids and seizures across several states, leading to the capture of a fleeing drug supplier, the interception of opioids bound for foreign destinations, and the recovery of large consignments of cannabis and codeine syrup.
Three weeks after evading arrest during a raid on his residence, a suspected supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in parts of Niger State was arrested by NDLEA operatives at his hideout.
The suspect, Mohammed Sani, also known as Gamboli, aged 33, was taken into custody on Thursday 11 December at one of his drug joints in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta, in Shiroro local government area.
In a release signed by Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA on Sunday 14th December 2025, the agency stated that Gamboli had earlier escaped when officers raided his house at Anguwan Makera, Kuta, on 20 November 2025, during which 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, was recovered.
Intelligence reports identified Gamboli as a major supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro local government area.
In Abia State, NDLEA officers on Thursday 11 December raided a clandestine codeine syrup manufacturing factory located at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, in Osisioma local government area.
During the operation, operatives recovered 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup with a combined weight of 1,152.2 kilograms.
Enugu State recorded multiple arrests on the same day. NDLEA operatives arrested Ossai Emeka, aged 45, along the Onitsha Enugu Ezike road with 7.2 kilograms of skunk.
Another suspect, Enoje Agada, aged 40, was arrested along the Enugu Ezike Ette road with 94.6 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance.
In Oyo State, a raid carried out on Thursday 11 December at a drug joint known as Beere the California in Ido led to the seizure of 3.4 kilograms of skunk, 1.6 kilograms of Colorado, described as synthetic cannabis, and 400 grams of methamphetamine.
The owner of the joint, identified as Idowu the killer, was reported to be at large, while a suspect, Ajibade Faruk, was arrested at the location.
A separate operation at Idi Oro, Elekuro, Ibadan, on Friday 12 December resulted in the arrest of Olusanya Abosede, aged 35, and the seizure of 238.4 kilograms of skunk.
At the Gbaji checkpoint on the Seme road in Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Bashiru Babalola, aged 43, and Ugunwale Ranti, aged 50, on Wednesday 10 December with 50,000 pills of tramadol 250 milligram strength.
In Ogun State, officers arrested Akinwale Makanjuola and Joseph Owolabi at Iperu with 73 kilograms of skunk, while another suspect, Wasiu Lateef, was arrested with 25 kilograms of the same substance at Oke Agbede, Imeko area on Tuesday 9 December.
In Ondo State, a raid on Monday 10 December in Ogbese, Akure North local government area, led to the arrest of Veronica Obi, aged 55, and her 29-year-old son Bright Obi.
Officers recovered 1,187 kilograms of skunk and its seeds from the compound. Edo State recorded the arrest of Ohiomah Igbafe, aged 44, at Uroe community, Owan East local government area, where 461 kilograms of skunk and its seeds were recovered on Tuesday 9 December.
Gombe State operatives arrested Muhammed Sani, alias Sha-Mu-Sha, aged 50, with 40,000 capsules of tramadol at Tunfure area, while Muhammad Abdullahi, alias Sakalala, 52, and Muhammed Hamza, alias Mamman, 32, were arrested at Ashaka Jalingo with 56 kilograms of skunk on Monday 8 December.
NDLEA officers also intercepted no fewer than 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam concealed in containers of local black soap and designer wears.
The seizures occurred in six different consignments destined for the US, Canada and Sweden at two major courier companies in Lagos between Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 December 2025.
At Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579 kilograms during a joint container examination with Customs Service and other security agencies on Saturday 13 December.
Commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the past week.
These included lectures at Community Senior Secondary School, Sheme, Katsina; Government College, Tudun Wada Dankade, Kano; and Methodist High School, Makurdi, Benue.
The Enugu State command paid an advocacy visit to HRM Igwe Ikechukwu Samuel Asadu, Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers of DOGI, Niger, Abia, Oyo, Enugu, Seme, Ogun, Ondo, Gombe, Apapa and Edo Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity, and encouraged them and colleagues nationwide to maintain the ongoing balanced approach to drug control efforts.
