Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a major opioid trafficking cartel in Lagos, arresting a drug baron, Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu, and five members of his syndicate in an intelligence-driven operation that led to the recovery of illicit substances worth over N6.7 billion.
The crackdown followed credible intelligence indicating that the drug trafficking organisation (DTO) was preparing to distribute more than 7.2 million pills of Tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million millilitres) of codeine syrup ahead of the Christmas season. The drugs were stored in a secret warehouse inside a residential compound at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, Isolo, Lagos.
A Special Operations Unit of the NDLEA carried out the well-coordinated raid between 19 and 20 November 2025, tracking two members of the cartel — Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel — to Apple Junction, Festac, where they were arrested while transporting 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.
A follow-up operation the next day at the syndicate’s warehouse led to the arrest of the kingpin, Nwanagu, along with Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
In total, operatives recovered 7,272,000 Tramadol 225mg pills valued at N3.96 billion, and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup valued at more than N2.76 billion, bringing the combined street value of the seizure to N6,722,550,000. The exhibits were evacuated from the estate using eleven trucks and transferred to the NDLEA central exhibit complex in Lagos.
Reacting to the operation, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the officers for their professionalism and described the breakthrough as a significant blow to cartels targeting Nigerian youths.
Also speaking on the development, Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, said the volume of the intercepted drugs underscores the scale of harm averted.
“This seizure is a major victory for the Nigerian people. The dismantling of this cartel prevented millions of dangerous opioid pills and codeine syrups from flooding communities and fueling addiction and insecurity,” Babafemi stated.
“The NDLEA remains focused on taking down kingpins and financiers. No drug baron is beyond the reach of the law.”
The NDLEA said the operation reinforces its resolve to intensify the fight against transnational and domestic drug networks ahead of the festive season and beyond.
