In a sweeping nationwide crackdown, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a series of major drug busts, recovering over 7.6 million pills of tramadol and a staggering 76,273.4 kilogrammes of various cannabis strains, including Colorado, Loud, and Skunk. Multiple suspects linked to drug trafficking organisations have been arrested in connection with the seizures across several states.
Major Busts Across Southern and Northern States
The agency's operations spanned from the south to the north of the country. In a significant raid on Saturday, December 6, 2025, NDLEA operatives stormed a warehouse at Oko market in Asaba, Delta State. There, they recovered at least 3,874,000 pills of 225mg and 100mg tramadol, along with a quantity of codeine syrup.
Just days earlier, on Wednesday, December 3, officers on patrol at Orogwe along the Onitsha/Owerri road in Imo State intercepted a vehicle. The driver, Kelechi Nwakocha, 35, was found to be transporting about 1.2 million tablets of tramadol 225mg. The consignment was loaded in Aba, Abia State, and was heading to Onitsha, Anambra State.
In the north, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number MGU 554 XB was intercepted on Monday, December 1, along the Maraba/Mubi road in Adamawa State. The bus, coming from Jos, Plateau State, was found to be carrying 1,577,112 capsules of tramadol and exol-5 tablets, cleverly concealed inside jumbo bags mixed with new rubber sandals and slippers. Two suspects, Kabiru Buba, 25, and Hamza Abubakar, 32, were arrested.
Destruction of Cannabis Plantations and Further Arrests
The NDLEA's special units also targeted cannabis farms and storage facilities. Operatives raided forests in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, destroying 14,654 kilogrammes of skunk and arresting two suspects: Yusuf Iliyasu, 50, and Okumu Chinedu, 26.
In a follow-up operation in Ekiti State on Tuesday, December 2, agents stormed forests in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole Local Council. They destroyed a massive 54,300kg of skunk stored in two large warehouses, which were subsequently razed. An additional 28.3kg was recovered for prosecution purposes.
Acting on intelligence, a raid was conducted on the same day at Igoba forest in Akure North Local Council, Ondo State. There, 5,442 kilogrammes of skunk (comprising 2,483 compressed blocks and 247 bags) were recovered. Five suspects were arrested, including Jacob Omodowo, 66, and Joy Oluatobi Peace, 24.
Interceptions on Highways and Urban Centers
The agency's vigilance extended to major transit routes. On December 4, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Mokwa/Jebba road in Niger State intercepted a Mercedes Benz van (MGU 614 XB) and recovered 500kg of skunk, arresting the driver, Amos Yakubu, 46.
In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives intercepted a 22kg consignment of synthetic cannabis (Colorado) on the Abaji expressway on Wednesday, December 3. A follow-up operation at Jabi park led to the arrest of a female receiver, Blessing Ali, 33. Another suspect, Aliyu Usman, 39, was arrested on Friday, December 5, along the Kwali/Gwagwalada expressway with 24kg of skunk and 573,500 pills of exol-5.
Lagos State also saw significant action. At Ladipo Market, Mushin, Ezenwa Udoka was caught with 113kg of Canadian Loud (217 pouches). Elsewhere in the state, Izuchukwu Usulor was nabbed with 351kg skunk at Onipanu, and Susan Okoro was arrested with 104.1kg of the substance at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo.
In Edo State, 447.5kg of skunk was recovered from two Honda Accord cars (ABC-678 KK and GGE-772 FB) in Agho forest, Akoko Edo Local Council, leading to the arrest of Dada Adedara Babawibi, 56. A raid on a warehouse in Isiefve community, Ohuwunde Local Council, yielded 315.8kg of skunk and the arrest of Stanley Obasuwa.
In a separate incident in Kano State, Mudansir Rabiu, 27, was arrested along the Zaria/Kano road with 197,000 pills of exol-5.
Leadership Commendation and Ongoing WADA Campaign
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retired), has commended the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit and the commands in Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Ondo, Lagos, Kano, FCT, Niger, and Edo for their operational successes.
He stated that their balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts is highly appreciated. Alongside these enforcement actions, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities throughout the past week.
