NDLEA arrests alleged drug kingpin, 5 others, uncovers N6.7bn opioid store in Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have taken into custody an alleged major drug trafficker, Oyekachi Nwanagu, along with five members of his network, after an intelligence-driven operation led officers to a massive opioid stash in the Isolo area of Lagos.

According to the NDLEA, the coordinated raid—conducted by the Special Operations Unit between November 19 and 20—followed credible intelligence indicating that the group was preparing to circulate more than 7.2 million tramadol tablets and over 526,000 bottles of codeine syrup ahead of the Yuletide period.

In a statement on Wednesday, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the first arrests were made on November 19 at Apple Junction, Festac, where operatives intercepted two suspects allegedly transporting 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.

He noted that the breakthrough prompted a follow-up raid at the syndicate’s warehouse the following day, where Nwanagu and three others —  Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu and Oraghalia Philip — were apprehended.

According to Babafemi, “Following credible intelligence that the drug trafficking organisation was about to distribute over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million ml) of codeine syrup warehoused in a residential compound located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri area of Isolo, Lagos State, ahead of the Christmas festive season, two members of the DTO — Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel — were trailed and arrested at Apple Junction, Festac, on Wednesday, 19th November, while conveying 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.

“A follow-up operation to the syndicate’s warehouse at Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, the following day, Thursday, 20th November, led to the arrest of Onyekachi Nwanagu and other members of his syndicate, including Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Philip.”

He added that officers recovered 7,272,000 tramadol 225mg tablets valued at N3.96bn and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup worth more than N2.76bn.

“In all, a total of 7,272,000 pills of tramadol 225mg worth N3,960,000,000 and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup valued at over N2,762,550,000, bringing the combined street value of the seized drugs to N6,722,550,000, were recovered and moved out of the estate in eleven trucks to the NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos,” he said.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) praised the operation, describing it as a decisive blow against organised drug crime. He said the massive haul stopped substances that could have fuelled addiction and insecurity across the country, adding that the agency remained committed to dismantling drug kingpins and their backers.