NDLEA dismantles Lagos opioid cartel, arrests drug baron, recovers N6.7bn illicit substances

NDLEA dismantles Lagos opioid cartel, arrests drug baron, recovers N6.7bn illicit substances

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a major opioids cartel in Lagos, arresting alleged drug baron Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu and five members of his network in a sweeping, intelligence-led operation. Illicit substances valued at over N6.7 billion were seized from a secret warehouse located within a residential estate in Isolo.

According to the NDLEA, the syndicate was preparing to distribute more than 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles of codeine syrup from a compound at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, ahead of the Christmas season.

A Special Operations Unit led coordinated raids between November 19 and 20, 2025. During the first phase, operatives arrested two members of the drug trafficking organisation—Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel—at Apple Junction, Festac, while they were transporting 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.

A follow-up operation at the syndicate’s warehouse resulted in the arrest of Onyekachi Nwanagu and four others: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.

READ ALSO:

• Ajayi faults Osogbo elites for political timidity, demands bold agitation for 2026
• Chelsea crushes Barcelona 3-0 at Stamford Bridge with Estevao outshining Lamine Yamal
• IPOB rejects Kalu’s claim that 30,000 died in South-East over Nnamdi Kanu activism

In total, the NDLEA recovered 7,272,000 tramadol pills worth N3.96 billion and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup valued at N2.76 billion, bringing the combined street value to N6,722,550,000. The narcotics were evacuated from the estate using eleven trucks and transferred to the agency’s central exhibit complex in Lagos.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), praised the professionalism of the Special Operations and Strike Force units, describing the breakthrough as a significant victory against cartels exploiting Nigerian youths.

“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement,” Marwa said. “The seizure of this colossal volume of illicit drugs, which could have fueled addiction, crime, and insecurity, represents a victory for the Nigerian people and reinforces our commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

He stressed that the agency remains focused on targeting major financiers and kingpins of the illicit drug trade. “The days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over. This arrest is a reminder that the law will catch up with every merchant of death, no matter how deeply concealed.”

NDLEA dismantles Lagos opioid cartel, arrests drug baron, recovers N6.7bn illicit substances