NDLEA dismantles opioid trafficking ring, arrests suspects in six states

By Kingsley Omonobi

ABUJA — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced that it has dismantled an opioid trafficking network and seized large quantities of illicit drugs hidden in building materials in Taraba State. The operation also led to coordinated arrests in Ebonyi, Imo, Edo, Kano and Gombe states.

NDLEA officials confirmed the arrest of a 75‑year‑old suspect in Ebonyi State and several others, including female drug dealers, during nationwide operations.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said operatives made a major breakthrough in Taraba on Saturday, June 6, 2026, after credible intelligence led to the interception of a truck carrying building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo.

A search at the Nukkai Timber Shade in Jalingo uncovered large quantities of drugs concealed under the cargo. A 22‑year‑old suspect, Buhari Abdullahi, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Items recovered from the truck included 320,840 tramadol capsules, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 rohypnol pills, and 299 bottles of codeine‑based cough syrup.

In Ebonyi State, operatives arrested 75‑year‑old Okebe Samuel in Okposi after he was found in possession of 300 grams of skunk allegedly packaged for retail distribution.

In Imo State, NDLEA operatives raided a drug hotspot in Umulolo, Orlu, arresting 32‑year‑old Chioma Okeke and recovering 8 kilograms of skunk.

In Edo State, a series of raids across Benin City on Tuesday, June 2, led to the arrest of four suspects, including three women.

At Uyosa, Benin City, 24‑year‑old Chioma Igba and 22‑year‑old Precious Ozomah were arrested with quantities of skunk, Loud, and methamphetamine. Along Agbor Road, 21‑year‑old Anita Abraham was arrested with substances identified as Loud variants. At Upper Mission, Benin City, 43‑year‑old Henry Okey was also arrested with multiple psychotropic substances.

In Kano State, operatives on Thursday, June 4, arrested 19‑year‑old Saifullahi Lawan in the Kafi area of Madobi with 40 blocks of skunk weighing 38 kilograms.

In Gombe State, operatives on Monday, June 1, intercepted 28‑year‑old Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi near Dantiti Plaza in Tumfure with 15,000 tramadol capsules.

The NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued nationwide, with sensitisation lectures held in schools across Oyo, Lagos, Anambra and Kano states, among others.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers involved in the operations across the affected states for their sustained efforts in both drug supply and demand reduction strategies.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks nationwide, regardless of the age, gender or concealment methods of suspects.

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