NDLEA destroys N301bn drugs, arrests 10 in Edo

August 18, 2026 12:46 am

Dayo Oyewo and Adeyinka Adedipe

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has destroyed 329,865.585 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs worth an estimated N301.06bn in Lagos.

The drugs, which included cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, opioids and other controlled substances, were destroyed on Monday at Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos, following orders of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division.

The exercise involved illicit drugs recovered in concluded cases and abandoned seizures.

According to the NDLEA, 246,864.535kg of the drugs were seized by its Lagos Strategic Command between April 2025 and May 2026, while 83,001.05kg were recovered by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Tin Can and Apapa Strategic Commands, Marine Command and a Special Operations Unit operating in Lagos.

The destroyed substances included cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, various strains of cannabis, including Canadian Loud and skunk, ephedrine, tramadol, codeine syrup and other opioids, as well as khat leaves.

Speaking at the exercise, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the destruction demonstrated Nigeria’s resolve to deprive criminal networks of resources used to sustain their operations.

Marwa said illicit drugs posed threats beyond addiction, noting that drug trafficking could fuel organised crime, terrorism and violent extremism.

He said every consignment intercepted by the agency represented lives saved and resources protected from the effects of drug abuse, crime and social dislocation.

The NDLEA boss also warned drug barons, traffickers, financiers, distributors and dealers that the agency would intensify its operations against their networks.

He said, “Wherever you hide, whoever sponsors you and however sophisticated your network may be, the long arm of the law will reach you.”

“The agency would remain committed to dismantling criminal networks and their financial structures, urging Nigerians, parents, schools, religious and traditional leaders, and the media to support the campaign against illicit drugs.”

He commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s support for the agency, as well as the judiciary, Lagos State Government, military, sister security agencies, international partners, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and members of the public for their cooperation.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the destruction of what he described as about 300 tonnes of narcotics and psychotropic substances highlighted the scale of the threat posed by illicit drugs to communities and young people.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the development also demonstrated the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies, the Judiciary and government.

“Lagos State is unwavering in its resolve to confront drug abuse and trafficking, and we will not relent in our efforts to do this,” he said.

Also speaking, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, commended the NDLEA for its operations, saying the seized drugs represented consignments intercepted at seaports, airports and land borders.

Adeniyi warned drug dealers that they were no longer welcome in Nigeria, adding that proceeds from drug trafficking could support violent non-state actors.

He said, “Bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, insurgents, and terrorists – this is their oxygen. The destruction that we are going to witness today is symbolic of two things: drug dealers are going to be losing investments worth billions of naira, and we are going to be denying non-state violent actors the necessary oxygen that they need for their heinous crime.”

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha, also assured the NDLEA of the Navy’s continued support for the country’s drug-control efforts.

The NDLEA said the operation was part of its ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent illicit substances from reaching communities across the country.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Command of the NDLEA has destroyed two plantations of cannabis worth 4,628.9kg and arrested 10 suspected drug traffickers in separate operations across the state.

This was disclosed on Monday by the commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who heads the Edo command of the NDLEA.

The commander said the officer acted on credible intelligence and destroyed the targeted cannabis farm at Ugboku, Igbanke Forest, in the Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state, while Abuja Quarters in Benin City were equally dislodged of criminals.

Ofoyeju said the operation was in line with the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa’s operational order to dislodge illicit drug locations nationwide.

“In a renewed offensive tasking order, the command discovered and successfully destroyed two cannabis farms that measured 1.851591 hectares with an estimated yield of 4,628.9775 kilograms. One suspect, Agholor Elebojie, a 40-year-old male, was apprehended in connection with the first farm. The farm, measuring 0.699792 hectares, had an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilograms.

“The second farm, measuring 1.151889 hectares, had an estimated yield of 2,879.7225 kilogrammes and was also destroyed. Additionally, two bags of processed cannabis sativa weighing 12.4 kilogrammes were recovered from the second farm,” Ofoyeju added.

The commander said that in a separate operation, officers raided and dislodged drug flashpoints at Oluku in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area and Abuja Quarters in the Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City.

He stated that the operation led to the arrest of 10 suspected male drug traffickers with various quantities of illicit substances.

“At Oluku, Kingsley Anigala, a 28-year-old male from Aniocha South LGA, Delta State, was arrested with 25.857 kilogrammes of cannabis and 93 grams of methamphetamine. His arrest took place on 14th August, 2026.

“At the Abuja Quarters, nine suspects were arrested on 13th August, 2026. They include Usman Adamu, 20, from Nassarawa State, with 47 grams of Loud and 160 grams of cannabis sativa; Abdullahi Adamu, 25, from Nassarawa State, with 107 grams of Loud, 2.1 grams of Swinol, and 0.1 grams of Danabol; Nasiru Yahaya, 29, from Katsina State, with 226 grams of cannabis sativa; Yunusa Musa, 28; Musa Shehu, 25; Kabiru Salisu, 28; Adamu Zakaria, 26; Andulrasheed Sani, 35; and Peter Hycent, 35, from Nassarawa, Kano, and Benue States, respectively.

“They were arrested with a combined haul of 1.3 kilograms of Cannabis sativa, three kilograms of loud, 301 grams of 100 mg Tramadol, 19 grams of 225 mg Tramadol, 47 grams of Diazepam, five grams of Swinol, eight grams of Danabol, and three grams of methamphetamine.

“All suspects have been taken into custody, and investigations are ongoing in preparation for prosecution,” he added.

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