NDLEA seizes over 9,500kg drugs nationwide, arrests suspect

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested an automobile spare parts dealer, Levi Ubodoeze, over a recent attempt to export two kilograms of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola.

The suspect was apprehended three weeks after operatives launched a manhunt for him.

A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, revealed that following the seizure of the cocaine consignment at a logistics company in Aspanda, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, on February 21, 2025, swift communication with the Angolan authorities led to the arrest of the intended recipient. This, in turn, exposed the identity of the sender.

“As a result, the NDLEA operatives on Thursday, March 6, tracked Ubodoeze to his residence in the Ago Palace Way area of Isolo, Lagos, where he was caught in a KIA Sport Utility Vehicle attempting to escape. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a large quantity of phenacetin —a cutting agent for cocaine— weighing 75.50 kilograms, packaged and branded as semolina. A digital scale used for weighing illicit drugs was also recovered from his house.

“In his statement, Ubodoeze admitted to dealing in cocaine while running his motor spare parts business at the Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos. He stated that the intended recipient of the consignment in Angola had alerted him upon his arrest, prompting his attempt to vacate his house and flee before NDLEA operatives swooped in,” the statement added.

Babafemi also disclosed that the NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a cargo of cannabis-infused candies imported from the United Kingdom and intended for sale at a kiddies’ mart located at 46 Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos.

“The consignment was seized on February 27 upon arrival as a consolidated cargo on Allied Airways. Preliminary field tests and forensic analysis confirmed that the candies were laced with a potent strain of cannabis. Consequently, the recipient of the shipment, Adedamola Taylor, was arrested on Tuesday, March 4, following the earlier arrest of a freight agent.

“In his statement, Adedamola claimed that the consignment was sent by his UK-based brother, Babatunde Alabi, for delivery to Musurat Lawal, who operates the kiddies’ shop owned by Alabi in Surulere. A follow-up operation at the shop led to Musurat’s arrest,” Babafemi stated.

The NDLEA spokesman further noted that two suspects, Chima Michael and Igbo Ekene, were arrested on Friday, after their commercial truck was intercepted by operatives at Shibiri, Ojo, Lagos.

“A search of the vehicle uncovered 248 compressed blocks of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 128kg, concealed in the underbelly of the truck.

“In another operation in Lagos, three suspects —Osinachi Nwachukwu, Tochukwu Okafor Christian, and John Ugochukwu Mbakwe— were arrested on Friday, March 7, at Mosalasi Junction, Mushin, with 301,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids.”

In Kano State, Babafemi said the NDLEA operatives nabbed a 65-year-old suspect, Yahaya Haruna, with 19.2kg of skunk along Gadar Tamburawa Road on Thursday. Meanwhile, a 60-year-old man, Musa Bello (also known as Jajere), was arrested with 212 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Medile, Kumbotso Local Government Area.

In addition, Babafemi said the NDLEA officers raided the residence and warehouse of a 37-year-old suspect, Blessing Okoronkwo, at 19 Ubani Street, Aba, Abia State, on Tuesday, March 4, recovering 442,594 pills of tramadol and other opioids, along with 1,274 bottles of codeine syrup.

In Benue State, he noted that operatives intercepted a vehicle at Ugbema Junction, Katsina-Ala, on Wednesday, March 5, recovering 50,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 from two suspects, Nwaeze Onyeabor, 47, and Tombo Thomas, 23.

“In Osun State, a suspect, Asimiyu Muibi, 50, was arrested on Tuesday, March 4, with 162kg of skunk at Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area. That same day, 95kg of the same substance was seized from a Toyota Camry with registration number KSF 72 GW during a raid in Ede.

“Meanwhile, in Edo State, a suspect, Etim Esien Stephen, 55, was arrested on Wednesday, March 5, when the NDLEA operatives raided Amahor Community Forest in the Igueben area. There, they destroyed 9,514.625kg of skunk cultivated on 3.8 hectares of cannabis farmland.”