NDLEA arrests a 75-year-old man, brothers, and a UK-based student in April 2025 operations targeting drug traffickers nationwide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a string of arrests across Nigeria, apprehending traffickers including a 75-year-old grandfather, a pair of siblings, and a Ghanaian-British student, as part of intensified operations in April 2025 targeting illicit drug activities.

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In Lagos, operatives arrested brothers John Abugu, 43, and Kenneth Abugu, 31, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday, 3 April.

The duo, who claimed they were travelling to India for medical treatment, were found with five kilograms of cocaine hidden in the walls of their suitcases.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday, revealing the operation was based on credible intelligence and proactive surveillance.

On the same day at the Lagos airport, a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British national, Parker Darren Hazekia Osei, was intercepted with 19.4 kilograms of Loud, a high-grade strain of cannabis.

Osei, who identified himself as a Computer Science student at East London University, arrived via Ethiopian Airlines from Bangkok, Thailand. According to NDLEA findings, he admitted to picking up the drug consignment in Bangkok with plans to deliver it in Nigeria.

Elsewhere, in Abia State, NDLEA operatives arrested 75-year-old Nna Nnanna Felix on Saturday, 5 April. He was caught with 1.6 kilograms of skunk during a raid in Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area. The agency also nabbed 21-year-old David Chinemerem in Aba with over 2,000 ampoules of pentazocine on 1 April.

In Kogi State, along the Okene-Lokoja highway, 33-year-old Ngozi Ogili was apprehended while conveying 3 kilograms of methamphetamine from Lagos to Abuja. Follow-up operations led to additional seizures, including Loud and Colorado strains of cannabis.

In a separate interception in Yobe State, NDLEA arrested Abdullahi Adamu on 5 April with 381 bottles of codeine syrup and 108 tramadol tablets along the Potiskum-Damaturu road.

Anambra State saw multiple suspects detained, including Obinna Sunday and Ugochukwu Ojalanonye. Authorities recovered 195,000 tramadol pills, 4.2 kilograms of codeine syrup, and 5.4 kilograms of pentazocine.

In the Federal Capital Territory, operatives arrested 51-year-old Sunday Ayogu at Wuse Market, Abuja, on 3 April. He was found in possession of 25 kilograms of skunk and 90.4 grams of methamphetamine.

Meanwhile, in Cross River State, NDLEA operatives, supported by Nigerian Army personnel, conducted a major raid in Esuk-Odot community, Odukpani Local Government Area.

The team destroyed over 100 hectares of cannabis farmland, wiping out more than 250,000 kilograms of the psychoactive plant. Two women—Faith Etim, 64, and Victoria Asuquo Etim, 40—were arrested at the scene.

These sweeping arrests and seizures highlight the NDLEA’s ongoing commitment to eradicating drug trafficking across Nigeria.