In a sweeping nationwide operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 75-year-old grandfather, two brothers, and several other individuals in connection with drug trafficking, as the agency intensifies its clampdown on illicit drug activities across Nigeria.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, revealed that the Abugu brothers — John Abugu, 43, and Kenneth Abugu, 31 — were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, April 3, 2025, while attempting to board a flight to India. The duo was found in possession of five kilograms of cocaine, which had been cleverly concealed within the walls of their suitcases.
“The two brothers were arrested following proactive processing of credible intelligence. They claimed they were travelling to India for medical treatment, but a thorough search revealed whitish powdery substances later confirmed to be cocaine,” Babafemi stated.
On the same day at the Lagos airport, operatives also arrested a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British national, Parker Darren Hazekia Osei, with 36 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis. The substances, weighing 19.40 kilograms, were packed in a large travel bag. The suspect, who claimed to be a computer science student at East London University, reportedly flew in from Bangkok, Thailand, via Ethiopian Airlines and admitted to collecting the consignment in Bangkok for delivery in Nigeria.
In another significant development, NDLEA officers in Abia State arrested a 75-year-old grandfather, Nna Felix, on Saturday, April 5, in Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area. He was found with 1.6 kilograms of skunk, another strong strain of cannabis.
Earlier in the week, on April 1, a separate operation in Aba led to the arrest of 21-year-old David Chinemerem, who was caught with 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine, an opioid analgesic commonly abused for recreational purposes.
Operations across other states also yielded results. In Kogi State, 33-year-old Ngozi Ogili was apprehended along the Okene-Lokoja highway while transporting 3 kilograms of methamphetamine from Lagos to Abuja. Follow-up operations led to the recovery of additional banned substances, including Loud and Colorado.
In Yobe State, Abdullahi Adamu was arrested on April 5 with 381 bottles of codeine syrup and 108 tablets of tramadol along the Potiskum-Damaturu road.
Anambra State witnessed a series of coordinated raids resulting in the arrests of multiple suspects, including Obinna Sunday and Ugochukwu Ojalanonye. Authorities seized a large haul consisting of 195,000 tramadol pills, 4.2 kilograms of codeine syrup, and 5.4 kilograms of pentazocine.
In the Federal Capital Territory, 51-year-old Sunday Ayogu was arrested during a raid at Wuse market in Abuja on April 3. He was found in possession of 25 kilograms of skunk and 90.4 grams of methamphetamine.
Further south, in Cross River State, NDLEA operatives — supported by the Nigerian Army — conducted a raid in Esuk-Odot community, Odukpani Local Government Area. The operation led to the arrest of two women, Faith Etim, 64, and Victoria Asuquo Etim, 40, and the destruction of over 250,000 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on more than 100 hectares of farmland.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to rooting out drug trafficking and abuse across the country, warning that no individual — regardless of age or nationality — will be spared in the fight against narcotics.
