By Clara Dabo
In a determined effort to combat the growing menace of illicit drug trafficking and dismantle entrenched criminal networks, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 60-year-old drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, ending a seven-year nationwide manhunt.
The suspect, on the NDLEA’s wanted list since 2019, was arrested on Sunday, July 13, at his hideout at 72 Michael Ojo Street, Isheri, in the Ojo area of Lagos State.Confirming the arrest
In a statement issued by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi, the operation formed part of a sustained offensive against drug traffickers and syndicates across Nigeria and that the arrest followed the interception of one of Chigozie’s couriers, 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Ilasamaja.
Acting on intelligence, operatives stopped a white Toyota Sienna at about 5:45 a.m. en route to Onitsha. A search aided by sniffer dogs uncovered 7.6kg of cocaine and 900g of methamphetamine concealed in specially modified compartments.A follow-up raid on Chigozie’s residence resulted in the seizure of an additional 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine.
According to him, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, NDLEA operatives in collaboration with FAAN aviation security personnel arrested Omoregie Nice Uyiosa on Wednesday, July 16. The Italy-bound passenger was found with 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol hidden in his luggage. Uyiosa admitted purchasing the drugs with the intent to sell them abroad.On July 17, another drug shipment was intercepted at the Lagos airport export shed. Seventeen parcels of skunk, weighing 1.7kg, were discovered concealed inside Golden Morn cereal packs bound for Pakistan. A suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna, was arrested.
Babafemi stated that in July 19, NDLEA operatives raided Sarah Sam Hotels, Ogudu, Lagos, following surveillance reports of illegal party drug sales. The operation led to the arrest of Obayemi Oyetade. Recovered items included 1.3kg of chocolate cannabis, 900g of cannabis-infused gummies, and 22.9g of skunk. Three vehicles were also impounded.
In the same vein, in Kaduna State, three suspects Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi, and Emmanuel Madu were arrested in Chikun LGA with 742.866kg of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic cannabinoid.
Also, in Kano, operatives intercepted 36,000 pills of tramadol along Danbatta-Kazaure Road, while in Gombe, 25,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 were recovered from Aliyu Abubakar at Gombe Roundabout. Two other suspects Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were arrested in Kwadom with 29kg of compressed skunk.
The NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy further said in Borno, a patrol team intercepted a Mercedes Benz C180 on Baga Road with 74,360 opioid pills. A suspect, Audu Modu, 44, was arrested.In Bayelsa, 63-year-old Akuna Nelson was caught with 163 litres of “skuchies”, a cocktail of local brews and hard drugs.
While in Kogi, four men Ikechukwu Abugu, Sunday Ani, Chukwu Christian, and Emmanuel Olisakwe were arrested along the Okene-Lokoja highway with 2kg of methamphetamine hidden in their vehicle.
In Abia State, a raid on the residence of Nduka Obi, a notorious dealer in Aba, uncovered tramadol, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ₦736,000 in cash.
Meanwhile in Enugu, 30-year-old Chisom Okpalaeke was caught with 45,000 tramadol pills on the Onitsha-Enugu expressway.
Similarly in Taraba, NDLEA arrested Ngwokwoka Thomas and Mohammed Audu at Dan Anacha with 10,000 tramadol capsules and one gram of cannabis.
As part of its nationwide sensitization efforts, the NDLEA intensified its WADA advocacy, reaching students and staff of various schools, including Government Day Secondary School, Badeggi (Niger), Dah Model Academy, Ngurore (Adamawa), Icon Academy, Nsukka (Enugu), Government Technical College, Nkpor (Anambra), and Madrisatul Tahfizul Qur’an Wa Ulumud Deen, Jaba Fagge (Kano).
The Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised the commitment of officers across commands, urging continued synergy between supply suppression and preventive strategies.
> “We must maintain pressure on traffickers while strengthening education, rehabilitation, and community-based efforts to reduce demand,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA’s latest operations underscore the agency’s unwavering resolve to rid Nigeria of the scourge of illicit drugs and safeguard the health and security of its citizens.
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