The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of cocaine and opioids concealed in carton walls and destined for the United Kingdom and Australia, while also destroying 65,000 kilograms of skunk in Delta State forests and arresting suspects across several states.
According to the agency, the seizures were made at a Lagos courier company on Friday, May 15, 2026, during the inspection of export shipments. NDLEA operatives recovered 170 grams of cocaine hidden inside the walls of a carton containing clothes meant for Australia.
Another carton bound for the United Kingdom was found to contain 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol, and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection concealed among other items.
In Delta State, operatives raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area on May 10, destroying 27,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 11 hectares of farmland and recovering an additional 22.9 kilograms of the substance. A suspect, 52-year-old Ifeanyichukwu Peter, was later arrested at Obiaruku.
A similar operation in Orogun village, Ughelli North LGA, on May 12 led to the destruction of another 37,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 15 hectares, with 55.4 kilograms recovered and 30-year-old Godwin Vincent Osadera arrested. NDLEA said the combined operations, supported by military personnel, resulted in the destruction of 65,000 kilograms of the illicit substance.
In Kaduna State, operatives recovered 361 kilograms of skunk during a raid in Dan Magaji area of Zaria, leading to the arrest of 42-year-old Husaini Suleiman.
The agency also intercepted 1,989 rounds of military-grade RLA 7.62mm ammunition concealed in bags of garri along the Abuja-Kaduna highway on May 12. The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Abdullahi Hassan, was arrested and subsequently transferred alongside the recovered ammunition to another security agency for further investigation.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested 29-year-old businessman Ogadi Peter in the Life Camp area of Abuja for allegedly producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties and social events. Officers recovered 800 grams of skunk and 2.7 kilograms of drug-infused cookies from his residence.
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives in Ogun State recovered 181 kilograms of skunk from a suspect, Aliyu Sani, during a raid in Ogere on May 13.
In Taraba State, 27-year-old Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa was arrested along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari LGA with 105,850 opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.
Two suspects, Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, were arrested in Saki, Oyo State, over the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 1,388.4175 kilograms of skunk on two farms during a raid in Ago forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area on May 15.
Meanwhile, in Kano State, operatives intercepted 1.2 kilograms of tramaking 225mg pills hidden inside a 25-litre jerry can of palm oil at Kofar Ruwa motor park following intelligence reports. Another suspect, Aminu Isa, 35, was arrested in Sabuwar Sharada area with 30.5 kilograms of skunk.
The agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign also continued nationwide with sensitisation lectures held in schools across Oyo, Niger, Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti, and Kano states.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers of the Delta, Kaduna, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, FCT, and Edo commands for the arrests and seizures, while urging commands nationwide to sustain efforts in reducing both drug supply and demand.