ABUJA — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dealt a significant blow to drug trafficking networks across Nigeria, executing a series of high-stakes operations that resulted in the seizure of hundreds of thousands of illicit pills and the arrest of suspects ranging from teenagers to septuagenarians.

Major Seizure in Taraba

The most significant operation occurred in Taraba State, where intelligence-led efforts tracked a truck transporting building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo. Upon searching the vehicle at the Nukkai Timber Shade, NDLEA operatives discovered a massive stockpile of illicit substances hidden beneath the cargo.

The agency successfully recovered:

  • 320,840 capsules of Tramadol

  • 600 ampoules of Pentazocine injection

  • 4,500 pills of Rohypnol

  • 299 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup

The driver of the truck, 22-year-old Buhari Abdullahi, was taken into custody at the scene.

"Age No Barrier": Arrests Across the Nation

The agency's latest reports underscore a broad enforcement approach, targeting suspects regardless of demographic.

  • Ebonyi: In a striking arrest, operatives tracked down 75-year-old Okebe Samuel in Okposi. The septuagenarian was found retailing 300 grams of cannabis (skunk) to local youths.

  • Edo: A coordinated raid in Benin City on June 2 resulted in the arrest of four traffickers, including three young women (Chioma Igba, 24; Precious Ozomah, 22; and Anita Abraham, 21), found with various quantities of Loud, skunk, and methamphetamine.

  • Kano & Gombe: In Kano, 19-year-old Saifullahi Lawan was intercepted with 38 kilograms of skunk, while in Gombe, Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi, 28, was caught with 15,000 capsules of Tramadol.

Commitment to the "War Against Drug Abuse"

NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the commands for their diligence. He reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug supply chains, emphasizing that the NDLEA remains focused on traffickers regardless of their age, gender, or sophisticated methods of concealment.

Beyond enforcement, the agency continues its nationwide "War Against Drug Abuse" (WADA) campaign, with recent awareness initiatives conducted in schools across Oyo, Lagos, Anambra, and Kano states to curb demand among the younger generation.