NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of Captagon pills in Kwara State, marking a significant breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against illicit drug trafficking and its links to global criminal networks.

The agency described the seizure as particularly notable, coming nearly five years after what it previously identified as Africa’s first interception of Captagon at Apapa Port in Lagos.

Captagon, an amphetamine-based stimulant, is widely abused in parts of the Middle East and has been linked to armed groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Authorities say proceeds from the drug trade are often used to fund extremist activities, while the substance itself is used to enhance endurance and reduce fear among fighters.

In a statement issued by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, operatives intercepted the latest shipment on April 21, 2026, along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State.

A search conducted on a 33-year-old suspect, identified as N. Mu’azu, led to the recovery of 10,000 pills of Captagon concealed in 10 packs, alongside nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg, a powerful opioid.

Babafemi noted that Captagon can sell for as much as $25 per pill on the black market, making it a lucrative commodity for trafficking syndicates.

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In a related operation on April 24 at the same location, NDLEA operatives intercepted another trailer (registration number RMY-70XA), uncovering a hidden compartment loaded with multiple illicit substances. The seizure included:

• 155,900 capsules of Tramadol
• 6,000 ampoules of Tramadol injection
• 3,000 tablets of Co-Codamol
• 9,000 tablets of Bromazepam

A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, was arrested in connection with the consignment.

In Oyo State, along the Ibadan–Oyo Expressway, NDLEA officers intercepted a commercial bus traveling to Sokoto. A passenger, 33-year-old Eze Prince Emeka, was subjected to a body scan after exhibiting suspicious behaviour.

The scan confirmed ingestion of illicit substances, and under medical observation, he excreted 45 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms in three separate excretions.

Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly opted for road travel to evade airport screening. He was reportedly planning to pass through trans-Saharan routes, with Algeria as a transit point and a possible final destination in Europe—highlighting the international dimension of Nigeria’s drug trafficking routes.

Further operations in Edo State led to the interception of a truck carrying 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids along the Benin–Lagos Expressway. Two suspects, Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44, were arrested, with the consignment reportedly bound for Onitsha.

The NDLEA said the coordinated operations underscore the growing scale and sophistication of drug trafficking networks in Nigeria, including the use of concealed compartments, human couriers, and multi-state distribution channels.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying surveillance and enforcement, warning that the convergence of drug trafficking and terrorism financing poses a serious threat to national and regional security.

NDLEA Intercepts Suspected ISIS-Linked Drug in Kwara