Kaduna NDLEA Busts Major Drug Ring: Suspects Apprehended And Substances Seized

NDLEA Cracks Down: Businessman Nabbed for Importing Cannabis from the U.S.

Let me tell you about a major bust by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Recently, they caught a businessman named Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, who owns a business in Lekki called Damillionz Takeout. He wasn't just any regular entrepreneur; he was allegedly involved in smuggling 60 parcels of a cannabis strain known as "Loud" from the United States into Nigeria. This isn't a small deal—it's a serious operation that NDLEA operatives uncovered. They nabbed him on Monday, March 24, 2025, at the Bay Lounge on Admiralty Way in Lekki, where he was waiting for his latest shipment to arrive.

Now, how did they catch him? It all started with the interception of his cargo, which arrived in Nigeria on March 12. The packages, seven large cartons in total, were discovered at a logistics firm in Lagos by operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation. This wasn't just a random find—it was a targeted operation based on solid intelligence. Once they had the evidence, it was only a matter of time before they made the arrest.

Search and Confession: What They Found

After apprehending Arokodare, the authorities conducted a thorough search of his home in Lekki. What did they find? A staggering 94 grams of cannabis, along with a substance called cannabis crusher and various paraphernalia associated with drug use. Adding it all up, the total amount of drugs seized from him amounted to 32.24 kilograms. In a confession, Arokodare admitted that he had been involved in the illegal drug trade since 2017. That’s a chilling revelation, showing just how deep this problem runs.

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Another Attempt Foiled: Tramadol Pills Bound for Italy

But wait, there's more. In a separate incident, NDLEA officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, stopped another businessman, Omoruyi Terry, who was trying to smuggle 1,400 pills of tramadol (225mg), weighing 800 grams, to Italy. They caught him at the screening area of Terminal 2 as he was about to board a Qatar Airways flight. Turns out, Omoruyi is no stranger to travel; he's a frequent visitor to Italy and works as a logistics agent there. This interception highlights the agency's vigilance and commitment to stopping the flow of illegal substances.

Intelligence-Led Raids in Katsina: Four Arrests Made

In Katsina, the NDLEA wasn't idle either. On Friday, March 28, they executed an intelligence-led raid in Godai village, Daura LGA, where they arrested four individuals. These suspects—Baraka Abubakar, 40; Haruna Alitine, 23; Muhammad Babangida, 20; and Hamisu Lawal—were involved in trafficking large quantities of drugs. During the raid, authorities recovered 684 blocks of compressed skunk, weighing 423 kilograms, along with 86,000 pills of diazepam. The investigation revealed that the three male suspects were repackaging the diazepam tablets into different containers, while Baraka, the lone female suspect, was found with large quantities of skunk in her residence.

Massive Cannabis Destruction in Edo State

Between Monday, March 24, and Friday, March 28, NDLEA operatives in Edo State were busy destroying cannabis plants. They eliminated no less than 13,198 kilograms of cannabis sativa in various forests across the state. In addition to the destruction, they seized 158 kilograms of the substance for potential legal action. These operations took place in forests where at least four cannabis plantations were located, including Uhen Forest in Ovia North East LGA, Sobe in Owan West LGA, and Amahor Forest in Igueben LGA. This is a massive effort to combat the cultivation and distribution of illegal drugs in the region.

Interception on the Mokwa-Jebba Road

Meanwhile, in Niger State, on Friday, March 28, NDLEA officers patrolling the Mokwa-Jebba road intercepted a black Toyota Corolla with the license plate SLM 137 SV. Inside the vehicle, they found two individuals, Paul Christopher, 46, and Lucky Star Anumie, who were carrying 179 blocks of compressed skunk weighing a total of 77.6 kilograms. The drugs were cleverly hidden in a false bottom of the car, but it wasn't enough to fool the trained eyes of the NDLEA operatives. The very next day, on Saturday, March 29, they recovered another 50 kilograms of skunk from the residence of a suspect named Isa Iliya, who remains on the run in Wawa village, Borgu council area.

More Seizures Across States

In Enugu State, NDLEA operatives recovered 108.5 kilograms of skunk from storage facilities at Aria New Market in Enugu metropolis on Tuesday, March 25. The day before, on Monday, March 24, they confiscated 25 kilograms of the same substance from a suspect named Abdulrazak Saka in the Kilako area of Ilorin, Kwara State. In Oyo State, another individual, Suli Saheed, 50, was caught with 2.5 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud and 515 grams of Colorado in the Olomi Academy area of Ibadan. It’s clear that the NDLEA is leaving no stone unturned in its mission to fight the war against drugs.

Community Sensitization: Educating the Next Generation

The NDLEA isn't just about arrests and seizures; they're also focused on education and prevention. Over the past week, the agency's commands and formations across the nation have been actively involved in War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization initiatives. These activities included lectures aimed at students and staff at various institutions, such as Blessed Martins International School in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State; Model Ideal College in Enugu; Oto-Awori Senior Secondary School in Ijanikin, Lagos State; and Command Secondary School in Numan, Adamawa State. By educating young people, the NDLEA hopes to prevent future generations from falling into the trap of drug abuse.

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Chairman's Message: Appreciation and Greetings

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, praised the efforts of the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Edo, Kwara, Niger, Enugu, Oyo, and Katsina Commands for their arrests and seizures. He highlighted the importance of their balanced approach to both reducing drug supply and demand. In a heartfelt message, he extended Eid-el-fitr greetings to them, their families, other stakeholders, and Nigerians at large. He added, “May the spirit of obedience and sacrifice that defines this special day guide and strengthen us as we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a drug-free society. May Allah continue to bless and guide us and may our collective efforts bring us closer to a safer and healthier society for all.”