Africa-Press – Nigeria. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has dismantled an opioids cartel in Lagos, arresting a suspected drug baron, Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu, and five other members of his network.
Illicit substances valued at more than N6.7 billion were recovered from a secret warehouse in a residential estate.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed on Wednesday that the operation followed credible intelligence indicating that the syndicate was preparing to distribute over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million millilitres) of codeine syrup ahead of the Christmas season.
According to Babafemi, operatives of the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit carried out coordinated raids between November 19 and 20, 2025.
Two members of the drug trafficking organisation, Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, were first arrested at Apple Junction, Festac, with 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.
The spokesman stated that follow-up operation at the warehouse located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, in the Isolo area of Lagos, led to the arrest of Nwanagu and three others: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
In total, operatives seized 7,272,000 pills of tramadol valued at N3.96 billion and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup worth N2.76 billion. The exhibits were evacuated from the estate in 11 trucks to the NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers involved, describing the breakthrough as a major setback for drug cartels targeting Nigerian youths. He said the seizure reaffirmed the agency’s determination to pursue drug kingpins and financiers.
Marwa noted that the arrests underscore the agency’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s directive to intensify the fight against illicit drugs, adding that the NDLEA would continue to ensure that drug traffickers are brought to justice.
“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement. The seizure of this colossal volume of illicit drugs, which could have fueled addiction, crime, and insecurity across our nation, represents a victory for the Nigerian people and a confirmation of our unwavering commitment to the mandate given to us by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, Marwa stated.
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