NDLEA Busts Lagos Drug Warehouse, Seizes N6.7bn Worth of Opioids
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a major opioids cartel in Lagos, arresting a suspected drug baron and five members of his syndicate in a sweeping, intelligence-driven operation.
Operatives recovered illicit substances valued at more than N6.7 billion from a secret warehouse located within a residential estate in the Isheri area of Isolo, Lagos.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the crackdown followed credible intelligence that the syndicate was distributing over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles of codeine syrup ahead of the festive season.
The warehouse, situated at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, was raided after operatives of the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit conducted a coordinated operation between Nov. 19 and 20.
Two members of the cartel were first intercepted at Apple Junction, Festac, on Nov. 19 while transporting 300 cartons of opioids in a truck. A follow-up raid on the warehouse the next day led to the arrest of the remaining gang members and the recovery of the bulk of the illicit substances.
In total, the agency seized 7,272,000 tramadol pills valued at N3.9 billion and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup worth over N2.8 billion. The exhibits were evacuated from the estate in 11 trucks and taken to the NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman, Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, praised the operation’s success, describing it as a significant blow to drug cartels targeting Nigerian youths.
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“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement,” Marwa said. “The seizure of this colossal volume of illicit drugs could have fueled addiction, crime, and insecurity across our nation. This represents a victory for the Nigerian people.”
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to pursuing drug kingpins and financiers, warning that “the days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over.”
According to Marwa, the arrest of the cartel’s leader and his accomplices after sustained intelligence operations demonstrates that “the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with every merchant of death, no matter how high or concealed they believe they are.”
