NDLEA arrests 75-year-old man, 4 female drug suspects

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 75-year-old man and four female suspected drug dealers in a series of operations across the country, while also intercepting large consignments of opioids and other illicit substances concealed in building materials. The agency said the arrests and seizures were part of its ongoing nationwide crackdown […]

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 75-year-old man and four female suspected drug dealers in a series of operations across the country, while also intercepting large consignments of opioids and other illicit substances concealed in building materials.

The agency said the arrests and seizures were part of its ongoing nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks.

A statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said a major breakthrough was recorded in Taraba State following the interception of a truck conveying building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo.

According to the statement, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, stopped and searched the vehicle at Nukkai Timber Shade in Jalingo on Saturday, June 6, 2026, leading to the discovery of a large cache of illicit drugs concealed beneath the cargo.

A 22-year-old suspect, Buhari Abdullahi, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Recovered from the truck were 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 tablets of Rohypnol and 299 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.

In Ebonyi State, operatives arrested a 75-year-old suspect, Okebe Samuel, at Okposi. The septuagenarian was allegedly found with 300 grams of skunk packaged in sachets and reportedly intended for sale to youths in the community.

The statement further disclosed that NDLEA officers raided a known drug enclave at Umulolo, Orlu, in Imo State, leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old female suspect, Chioma Okeke. About eight kilogrammes of skunk were recovered during the operation.

The agency also intensified operations in Edo State, where operatives raided notorious drug spots in Benin City.

At Uyosa, two female suspects, Chioma Igba, 24, and Precious Ozomah, 22, were arrested with 176 grams of skunk, 65 grams of Loud and five grams of methamphetamine.

Similarly, another female suspect, Anita Abraham, 21, was arrested along Agbor Road, Benin City, with 95 grams of Scottish Loud and 329 grams of regular Loud.

At Upper Mission, Benin City, operatives arrested a 43-year-old suspect, Henry Okey, with various psychotropic substances, including Loud, Colorado, Swinol and methamphetamine.

In Kano State, a 19-year-old suspect, Saifullahi Lawan, was arrested at Kafi in Madobi Local Government Area on June 4 with 40 blocks of skunk weighing 38 kilogrammes.

Also in Gombe State, operatives intercepted a 28-year-old suspect, Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi, near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area on June 1. He was allegedly found in possession of 15,000 capsules of tramadol.

Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued across the country through sensitisation programmes in schools, including Holiness Foundation Primary School, Saki, Oyo State; Dorras High School, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State; Ado Girls Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra State; and Army Day Secondary School, Kano State.

Reacting to the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), commended officers and men of the Taraba, Ebonyi, Imo, Edo, Kano and Gombe commands for their vigilance and resilience.