NDLEA arrests dispatch riders distributing illicit drugs in Abuja; recovers opioids in footwears at Maiduguri airport

By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja-

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives conducting intelligence-led stop and search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas of the FCT has arrested three dispatch riders for distributing illicit substances around the city.

The NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the the suspects identified as Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28, were arrested on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Mr. Babafemi said a total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis were recovered from them.

According to him, two other suspects: Aliyu Abubakar, 25; and Adekunle Agbabiaka, 30, were arrested along Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, on Saturday 2nd August.

In Lagos, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence on Saturday 2nd August arrested Joseph Michael with 3.3 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis in Mushin while Ibrahim Sulaiman was nabbed in Iwaya area of Yaba with 16.5 litres of skuchies on Friday 1st August.

No fewer than 100,000 pills of tramadol capsules were seized from a suspect, Hussein Yusuf, 37, at an NDLEA checkpoint along Vandeikya-Ogoja road in Benue state on Friday 1st August, while operatives in Edo state same day raided a warehouse in Ekpoma where a suspect William Alabi, 44, was arrested and 233.5kg skunk recovered.

In Borno state, NDLEA operatives at the arrival hall of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport (MBIAM) Maiduguri on Friday 1st August intercepted a consignment of 160 pills of tramadol concealed in footwears by a 38-year-old passenger, Umar Aminu who was promptly arrested.

While NDLEA operatives in Ogun state on Friday 1st August raided the Oja Odan area and arrested a female suspect, Yahaya Aminat Seyi, with 7, 218 pills of opioids mainly tramadol, their counterparts in Oyo state nabbed Oladeji Saka, 54, with 77.5 kilograms of skunk at Asanike, Ibadan, just as another suspect Benson Izah, 40, was arrested in Abraka, Delta state with 12.5kg skunk, 1kg tramadol and 14.4litres of codeine.

In Bayelsa state, NDLEA officers on Friday 1st August arrested 52-year-old Chief Emeka Opara and Onuoha Chidinma, 25, along Tantua road, Amassoma where a total of 41,705 tramadol capsules, among other assorted opioids were recovered from their shop and residence, while a suspect Bashir Gambo, 30, was nabbed at Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada LGA, Kano state, with 61kg skunk.

Two suspects: Kabiru Ayinde, 40; and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were on Monday 28th July arrested at Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town, Osun state, where 90kg skunk, 36.3grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus marked SMK 755 YF and ₦228,200.00 cash exhibit were recovered from them.

In like manner, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ciroma Ibrahim Islamiyya School, Potiskum, Yobe; Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’an and General Studies, Wamakko, Sokoto; metro drivers of Borno Express Transport Services, Maiduguri, Borno state; and worshippers at Seventh Day Adventist Church, Abakpa Nike, Enugu state, while the Osun State command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to Oluwo of Iwo land, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, MBIAM, FCT, Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Benue, Kano and Osun Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.