According to a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the operations led to the recovery of over six million opioid pills, including Tamol 225mg, Tapentadol 225mg, and Carisoprodol 225mg, along with 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
Babafemi explained that the seizures at both ports resulted from a coordinated effort and intelligence sharing, which prompted the NDLEA to place certain containers on a watch-list for 100 per cent examination. At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, two containers were examined on Monday, May 19, and Tuesday, May 20, 2025, during a joint operation by NDLEA officers, Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies, uncovering six million opioid pills and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup.
A similar operation at the Apapa port in Lagos on Thursday, May 22, 2025, led to the discovery of an additional 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in a container.
Babafemi also disclosed the arrest of two British nationals and their Nigerian accomplices for attempting to smuggle 51.10kg of cannabis, known as Loud, into the country through Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The British nationals, Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra and Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, along with two Nigerians, Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami, were apprehended after Alexander arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
According to the NDLEA, Alexander was allowed to pass through security checks at the airport without hindrance, but undercover operatives monitored him until he reached the airport car park, where Ayedipe, a Nigerian-British national, waited in an SUV alongside Shonowo and their driver, Ofuoma. NDLEA operatives swooped on them as they prepared to leave the car park, arresting all four and seizing the drugs.
Alexander reportedly confessed to being recruited during his vacation and promised a payment of £1,300 upon successful delivery of the drugs in Lagos. Ayedipe admittedto arriving in Nigeria a day earlier from South Africa via Ghana. A follow-up raid at their apartment in Lekki uncovered N93,000, 17,200 South African Rand, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, four canisters of nitrous oxide (popularly known as laughing gas), and N3,810,500 in cash.
In other operations across the country, NDLEA operatives destroyed 75,000 kilograms of skunk on 30 hectares of cannabis farms at Esuk-Odot village, Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State, on Wednesday, May 22, 2025, and seized 200kg of the substance. Similar raids in Edo State on May 23 and 24 resulted in the destruction of 1,957.5kg of cannabis at Ohosu Forest, Ovia South West LGA, and Okhuse Community Forest, Owan West LGA.
In Nasarawa State, two suspects—Sunday Daniel, 51, and Abu Peter, 30—were arrested in Keffi on Saturday, May 24, after 4,000 kilograms of skunk were found concealed under unprocessed wood in their lorry. Another suspect, Godwin Obi, 39, was apprehended in Karu on Wednesday, May 21, with 154.5kg of the same substance.
In Kaduna State, operatives patrolling the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway at Gwargwaje intercepted 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza with 57,750 tramadol and diazepam pills on Wednesday, May 21. On the same day, 45-year-old Usman Muhammad was arrested along Bauchi-Misau Road in Bauchi State with 80 blocks of skunk weighing 45kg.
In Yobe State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 55 parcels of Colorado cannabis weighing 2kg along the Potiskum-Damaturu Road. The suspect, 29-year-old Adum Muhammed, was allegedly attempting to smuggle the drugs into the Republic of Chad through Ngamboru Ngala border town in Borno State.
Meanwhile, in Niger State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Mokwa-Jebba Road on Thursday, May 22, intercepted a Mercedes Benz car marked FST 938 FU loaded with 235 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 97kg, leading to the arrest of the driver, Adams Ayibakro.
In Lagos, a raid in the Osapa London area of Lekki led to the arrest of Jonathan Isa, who was found in possession of various quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, molly, Rohypnol, codeine, cannabis, and nitrous oxide. Another operation in Idasun, Eleko, Ibeju Lekki, on Saturday, May 24, resulted in the arrest of Olamilekan Idowu and the seizure of 48kg of skunk.
Babafemi reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and commended the efforts of NDLEA officers across the country for their dedication and bravery in the fight against drug cartels.
