In a major breakthrough, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious 60-year-old drug baron, Okpara Paul Chigozie, who has been on the run since 2019.
He was apprehended In Lagos at his hideout in Isheri after his courier was caught transporting cocaine and methamphetamine along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
A follow-up raid on his residence uncovered even more drugs, effectively shutting down one of the most elusive drug networks in the country.
The NDLEA’s momentum didn’t stop there. At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the agency intercepted 7,790 pills of Tramadol and Rohypnol from an Italy-bound passenger.
In another operation, 1.7kg of skunk concealed in Golden Morn cereal packs was discovered in a shipment bound for Pakistan.
A raid on Sarah Sam Hotels in Ogudu also led to the recovery of party drugs like Chocolate Cannabis, skunk, and gummies—all from a 20-room hotel used as a family-run drug base.
From Kaduna to Gombe, Bayelsa to Abia, the NDLEA executed well-coordinated raids that resulted in the seizure of over 100,000kg of drugs and the arrest of several suspects.
In Borno, over 74,000 pills of opioids were intercepted in a single operation. In Gombe, 29kg of compressed skunk and thousands of pills were recovered. A 63-year-old grandmother was also arrested in Bayelsa with 163 litres of dangerous mixtures called “skuchies.”
“These coordinated raids are a testament to our commitment to rid Nigeria of drug trafficking and abuse,” said Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, NDLEA. “With the arrest of Okpara and the recovery of such massive volumes of narcotics, we’ve taken a significant step forward in dismantling the supply chain feeding this epidemic.
”The NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) also continued in schools nationwide, ensuring prevention goes hand-in-hand with enforcement.
According to NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), “Our officers are committed to a balanced approach—cutting supply while also educating our youth. Together, we can win this war.”
