The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has broken up a major opioid trafficking network in Lagos, arresting drug baron Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu and five members of his syndicate. The operation, described as intelligence-led and highly coordinated, led to the recovery of illicit substances valued at more than N6.7 billion.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the cartel had stockpiled 7.2 million tramadol 225mg pills and over 526,000 bottles of codeine syrup in a hidden warehouse located in a residential estate at Bucknor, Isheri, Isolo, in preparation for large-scale distribution ahead of the festive season.
Two members of the group, Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, were first intercepted at Apple Junction, Festac, while transporting 300 cartons of opioids. A follow-up raid on the warehouse the next day led to the arrest of Nwanagu and four others — Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
In total, officers recovered 7,272,000 tramadol pills valued at N3.96 billion and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup worth N2.76 billion, which were evacuated from the estate in eleven trucks to the NDLEA’s central exhibit complex.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the officers involved, calling the operation “a major blow to the cartels preying on Nigeria’s youth.” He said the seizure demonstrated the agency’s strengthened resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks and focus on their financiers.
Marwa added that the arrests should serve as a warning to drug kingpins who believe they can evade law enforcement, noting that the agency remains committed to bringing all major traffickers to justice.
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