crime

NDLEA Arrests Drug Kingpin, Seizes Billions in Narcotics

Published

1 year ago

August 17, 2025

NDLEA arrests drug kingpin Sunday Ibigide in Delta and seizes drugs worth billions nationwide, including codeine and tramadol

NDLEA arrests have intensified nationwide as the anti-narcotics agency confirmed the capture of a notorious drug kingpin, Sunday Ibigide, in Asaba, Delta State, after three years on the run.

Also read: NDLEA, Ministry of Agriculture Collaboration Gains Support

According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Ibigide was arrested with his aide, Clement Osuya, while attempting to move 250 blocks of skunk weighing 138kg.

He had been declared wanted in 2022 following a seizure of 24kg of skunk and 10 grams of molly.

The weekend also saw sweeping drug raids across multiple states. In Enugu State, operatives, backed by the military and vigilantes, destroyed 37,500kg of cannabis on 15 hectares of farmland, arresting six suspects.

More seizures followed in Lagos, where a mother-and-son duo were caught storing 149kg of cannabis, while in Ajah, another suspect was nabbed with 8.5kg of Canadian Loud.

In Gombe and Kogi, NDLEA intercepted over 465,800 capsules of tramadol, while in Taraba, 11,250kg of skunk was destroyed in the Tanmiya Forest during a joint operation. Kaduna, Edo, and Kano states also recorded significant seizures of cannabis and opioids.

Perhaps the biggest haul came from Onne Port in Rivers State, where NDLEA, in collaboration with Customs and other agencies, recovered 875,000 bottles of codeine syrup worth over ₦6.1 billion and 3.5 million pills of benzhexol valued at ₦1.7 billion.

In Edo State, raids yielded 562kg of cannabis across two locations, while in Kano, two suspects were arrested with more than 90kg of drugs along the Zaria-Kano Road.

NDLEA operatives also intercepted 4,320 ampoules of ketamine at Gbaji checkpoint on the Lagos-Badagry Highway.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the operatives for their resilience, urging them to sustain the balanced and aggressive approach in the fight against drug trafficking.

Also read: NDLEA Drug Bust Uncovers Shocking Smuggling in Moimoi Packs

With these NDLEA arrests and record-breaking seizures, the agency has reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling cartels and cutting the supply chain of illicit drugs across Nigeria.

Up Next

Lagos One Chance Kingpin Arrested in Police Breakthrough

Don't Miss

Shocking Delta State Incident as Man Allegedly Murders Mother

theheute

Click to comment

crime

Police Arrest Convicted Drug Dealer, Rescue 14-Year-Old Boy in Bauchi

Published

9 hours ago

October 27, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Bauchi drug dealer arrest leads to the rescue of a 14-year-old boy allegedly used as a drug courier and the recovery of suspected illicit substances

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer and rescued a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly being used to deliver illicit drugs in the state.

Also read: NRS Assures Taxpayers VAT Remains at 7.5% Amid Tax Reform Concerns

The command said operatives of its Violent Crimes Response Unit intercepted the teenager during a routine patrol and recovered a granular whitish substance suspected to be methamphetamine.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to Habib, the operatives, led by the unit’s officer-in-charge, intercepted the minor, identified as Samuel Nkemakolan Kosi, at about 11 am on October 26, 2026, while he was allegedly on his way to deliver the suspected drug, also known as Ice, to a customer.

The statement said the teenager told investigators that he had been sent by Samuel Ogochukwu, a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery.

“Upon interrogation, the minor confessed that he was sent by one Samuel Ogochukwu, 22 years old, a convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery,” Habib said.

Following the information, detectives traced Ogochukwu to his location and arrested him.

A search of the suspect’s shop and residence reportedly led to the recovery of 3.5 grammes of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 17 sachets of 100mg tramadol capsules, five sachets of 300mg pregabalin capsules and seven sachets of diazepam.

The police also recovered 12 Exol tablets, two wraps of a substance known as Yellow Boys and one sachet of Shine Shine Leather.

Habib said the principal suspect told investigators that he received supplies of illicit drugs through waybills from Onitsha, Anambra State.

The police spokesman added that the 14-year-old had been handled in accordance with juvenile best practices and would be reunited with his family after counselling.

“The 14-year-old minor has been handled in line with juvenile best practices and will be reunited with his family after counselling, while the principal suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigation,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the operatives for their work and urged the public to remain alert to criminal activity.

According to Habib, the commissioner said four major drug busts and subsequent convictions recorded within 10 days demonstrated the command’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking.