NDLEA Busts N5.8bn Cannabis Syndicate In Lagos, Arrests Three Persons With Disabilities

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested three persons with disabilities over alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities.

The anti-narcotics agency also uncovered a drug stash valued at N5.8 billion in Lagos.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, the three suspects were arrested in separate anti-drug operations carried out across Anambra and Kwara states as part of intensified nationwide efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks.
Babafemi explained that the arrests coincided with the discovery of a massive cache of drugs in Lekki, Lagos, where NDLEA operatives recovered over N5.8 billion worth of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from a residential property allegedly serving as a distribution centre.
The statement identified one of the suspects as 60-year-old Romanus Nwabara, who was arrested inside Akpaka Forest in Onitsha, Anambra State, following intelligence-led operations by NDLEA officers. During the operation conducted on May 6, officers reportedly recovered 250 grams of skunk packaged in retail sachets.
In another operation carried out on May 7 in the Ogbunike area of Anambra State, NDLEA operatives arrested 25-year-old Amos Kenneth. Recovered from him were 160.3 grams of Tramadol in 225mg and 100mg variants, 80 pills of Diazepam, 38.23 grams of Exol-5 and 176.93 grams of skunk.
Babafemi further stated that the third suspect, Usman Salisu, was arrested in Kwara State after NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial vehicle during a patrol along Bode Saadu on May 8. Officers allegedly discovered 6.3 kilograms of skunk concealed inside a brown school bag belonging to the suspect.
In Lagos, operatives attached to the agency’s Special Operations Unit reportedly raided a mansion located at 36 African Lane, Lekki Phase 1, where they recovered 4,000 parcels of Loud weighing 2,326 kilograms.
The agency said the recovered drugs had an estimated street value of N5.815 billion.
Two Mercedes-Benz buses and several designer packaging sachets allegedly meant for retail distribution were also recovered during the operation conducted on May 8.
Babafemi also disclosed that NDLEA officers arrested Emmanuel Osita Okeke with 129 kilograms of skunk in Nyanya-Karu, Nasarawa State.
Similarly, another operation along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State led to the interception of a commuter bus transporting 766 kilograms of skunk concealed inside 76 jumbo bags.
Three suspects identified as Mathew Omohove, Ebuka Desmond and Babangida Musa were arrested in connection with the seizure in Kogi State.
The agency also dismantled a makeshift skuchies production factory in the Ijora Badia area of Lagos, where two suspects, Bose Jamiu and Gbenga Gege, were allegedly caught mixing cannabis with other illicit substances.
NDLEA operatives reportedly recovered 270 litres of processed skuchies and 106 grams of Tramadol during the raid.
Beyond enforcement activities, the agency stated that its commands across the country had continued the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres and communities in states including Nasarawa, Ekiti, Enugu, Abia, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Kano and Oyo.
Babafemi quoted the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, as commending officers involved in the operations.
Marwa also urged commands nationwide to sustain ongoing anti-drug enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns.