The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of Captagon, popularly known as a “Jihadi drug”, and millions of opioid tablets with a combined street value of more than ₦6.2 billion in separate operations across Nigeria.

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At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old suspected cross-border drug trafficker, Akinbile Kazeem Aikins, shortly after he arrived from Accra, Ghana, aboard an African World Airlines flight on August 22, 2026.

The agency said officers became suspicious of a carton of locally produced bathing soap, popularly called “Ghana Soap”, in his possession. A search allegedly uncovered 47,200 Captagon tablets concealed inside the soap blocks. The drugs were estimated to be worth more than ₦1.5 billion.

According to the NDLEA, Captagon is an illicit amphetamine associated with armed extremist groups, earning it the nickname “Jihadi drug”. Nigeria first recorded a major Captagon seizure in September 2021, when the agency intercepted a consignment at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

The suspect reportedly told investigators that the consignment was destined for northern Nigeria.

Over 3.9 Million Opioid Tablets Intercepted

In another operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives recovered 3,900,030 tablets of Tramaking 225mg and Tapentadol 250mg from four abandoned consignments.

The drugs, weighing 2,787.40kg, were estimated to have a street value of more than ₦4.6 billion.

Three of the consignments contained about 900,000 Tramaking tablets, weighing 815.40kg, and reportedly arrived from Bangladesh aboard RwandAir flights.

The fourth consignment contained 3,000,030 Tapentadol tablets, weighing 1,972kg, and was brought into Nigeria aboard Qatar Airways from Amsterdam.

The NDLEA said the consignments had been placed under surveillance after no importer or recipient came forward to claim them. They were eventually retrieved on August 28 during a joint examination involving the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders.

More Arrests and Drug Seizures

The agency also arrested 31-year-old Sowunmi David Oludotun in the Ikate area of Lekki, Lagos, on August 19. Oludotun, who had reportedly returned from the United States, was allegedly attempting to collect 3.350kg of Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis imported from the United Kingdom.

In Rivers State, NDLEA operatives raided a suspected drug den in the Abuja Down/Up area of Port Harcourt, recovering a fireproof safe containing 237 grammes of Colorado cannabis, 316 grammes of cocaine and 10 grammes of heroin.

The agency also intercepted more than one tonne of cannabis in separate operations in Ondo State.

Three suspects — Oyedele Daniel, 42; Taye Saliu, 36; and Kehinde Saliu, 36 — were arrested along the Ipele-Idoani Road on August 28 while allegedly transporting 728kg of skunk in a truck.

At Aponmu Forest, two other suspects, Uche Joseph, 35, and Godwin Umeh, 21, were arrested on August 26, with another 341kg of skunk recovered.

In Delta State, NDLEA operatives recovered more than 176,000 assorted opioid pills, including tramadol and molly, during separate operations between August 26 and 28.

Marwa Orders Sustained Pressure on Traffickers

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations and directed personnel to sustain the agency’s nationwide campaign against illicit drug trafficking.

Marwa urged officers to maintain a balanced approach combining drug enforcement, prevention, advocacy and public enlightenment.

He also warned traffickers against exploiting ordinary household products to conceal narcotics, following the discovery of Captagon hidden inside locally produced bathing soap.

The NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign also continued during the week, with sensitisation programmes held in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities across several states.