Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a major drug trafficking network in Lagos, arresting six suspects and seizing narcotics worth over N6.7 billion.
The agency said the operation, led by its Special Operations Unit, uncovered a large warehouse in Isolo, Lagos, stocked with more than 7.2 million tramadol 225mg pills and over 526,000 bottles of codeine syrup.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, told journalists on Wednesday that two suspects, Egbo Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, were first arrested on 19 November at Apple Junction, Festac, while transporting 300 cartons of the drugs in a truck.
“A follow-up raid at a residential compound located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, the next day led to the arrest of Onyekachi Nwanagu and three others: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Philip,” Babafemi said.
He added that the seized drugs included 7,272,000 tramadol pills valued at N3.96 billion and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup worth over N2.76 billion.
“The combined street value of the drugs is N6,722,550,000. They were moved from the estate in eleven trucks to the NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos,” he said.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), praised the officers involved, describing the operation as a significant blow to criminal drug networks.
He noted that the seizure prevented substances that could fuel addiction and insecurity across Nigeria.
The agency has intensified nationwide crackdowns on large-scale drug trafficking ahead of the Christmas season.
Earlier, on 18 November, operatives arrested a woman, Oluchi Celestine, in Lekki for possession of 2.6kg of Colorado, some of which were hidden in branded containers and flight boarding passes.
