The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a major drug trafficking network across several states, recovering illicit drugs and other contraband worth more than ₦3.6 billion in Lagos alone, while arresting a 48-year-old businessman who allegedly sold his business and personal assets to finance a cocaine shipment destined for India.

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The businessman, Nwankwo Onyebuchi, a Lagos-based marble dealer, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi. According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, operatives searching his luggage discovered 1.550 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside the side walls and railings of the bag.

The agency alleged that Onyebuchi told investigators he had sold his marble business and other assets to raise ₦23 million to purchase the cocaine, with plans to sell the consignment in India for as much as ₦100 million.

The airport arrest came as NDLEA operatives simultaneously uncovered large quantities of illicit drugs in different parts of the country. In Lagos, officers raided a warehouse hidden inside a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace, Okota, where they recovered 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at more than ₦2.6 billion. In Ipaja, the agency also recovered 324 kilogrammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, valued at about ₦972 million, from the residence of suspected drug kingpin Shoremi Kayode, 55.

A Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Corolla were also recovered.

The nationwide operation extended to Oyo, Kano, Plateau, Edo and Delta states, with NDLEA operatives intercepting large consignments of tramadol, pentazocine, codeine, Rohypnol, diazepam, cocaine, methamphetamine and synthetic cannabis. In Oyo, two suspects, including 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran, were arrested with 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection. In Kano, six suspects were arrested with 728,958 opioid pills, alongside cocaine, methamphetamine, codeine syrup and Loud cannabis.

In Plateau State, operatives recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol, while in Delta State, a suspect was arrested with 1,244 cartridges and ₦8 million cash. In Edo, NDLEA personnel destroyed 4,628.9775 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on two cannabis farms covering about 1.85 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

Another suspect was arrested in Benin City with 25.857 kilogrammes of Loud and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.

The NDLEA said its operations were part of its continuing efforts to disrupt both domestic and international drug trafficking networks. The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools and communities. NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended the personnel involved in the operations, saying the agency would continue to pursue both drug supply reduction and demand reduction across the country.