Lagos, Nigeria—Nigerian anti-narcotics officials have arrested two men described as major drug kingpins in Lagos, seizing significant quantities of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine that were allegedly being prepared for export to Europe.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced the arrests on Sunday, stating that the men were running separate, sophisticated drug syndicates. The operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance by the Agency’s Special Operations Unit (SOU).
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi reported that the suspects had been concealing their illicit activities behind legitimate businesses.
- One suspect, Nwosa, 64, reportedly posed as a successful textile merchant.
- The other, Obiegbu, 49, was known in the community as a wine distributor.
“Beneath their outward appearance is their hidden illicit drug business,” the statement read, confirming the syndicates were uncovered after months of sustained intelligence efforts.
Nationwide Seizures Target Drug Trafficking Networks
The arrests in Lagos are part of a broader, successful sweep by the NDLEA across multiple Nigerian states, highlighting a determined effort to dismantle criminal networks.
Notable interceptions include:
- Borno and Yobe States: Operatives arrested a 26-year-old man, Baba Kaka Ibrahim, after discovering 39,380 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 hidden in the engine compartment of a vehicle. Separately, a woman was arrested in Yobe after 1.4kg of Colorado (a strain of cannabis) was seized from her, leading to a follow-up arrest in Maiduguri.
- Edo State: The agency conducted a major destruction operation, eradicating more than 24 tonnes of cannabis plants found in extensive forest farms. An intercepted truck was also found carrying 1,025kg of concealed skunk.
- Lagos, Kaduna, and Abuja: Multiple arrests led to the seizure of 262.6kg of skunk concealed in a jeep traveling from Osogbo to Katsina, 506 grams of methamphetamine, and over 85,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids.
The Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for the series of successful operations across several states, stating that the seizures were vital in protecting Nigerian youths and strengthening national security.
The anti-narcotics body recently boosted its capacity with the commissioning of a modern, German-built Canine Complex in Lagos, intended to provide improved infrastructure for its sniffer dog unit, which has been credited with playing a crucial role in past high-profile drug seizures.
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