The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its war against narcotics, uncovering a network of drug trafficking operations stretching from hotels and highways to courier firms and major ports across Nigeria.
At the centre of the latest crackdown is a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, who was intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, with cocaine concealed in his system as he prepared to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy via Addis Ababa and France.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
According to Babafemi, Cyril was intercepted at the departure hall on Sunday, August 2, during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930. Placed under strict medical watch, he eventually excreted 98 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.510 kilograms.
Investigations revealed that Cyril had returned to Nigeria from Italy on July 13, 2026, and allegedly loaded the narcotics into his system at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu for his planned journey back to Europe.
During interrogation, Cyril reportedly confessed to the offence, explaining that he had operated a business in Italy for years before agreeing to traffic the cocaine for €3,500. He said the money was intended to help him relocate to Germany, where his family is based.
The NDLEA dragnet also reached Lagos, where operatives at a local courier firm stopped an attempt by drug syndicates to export 1.2 kilograms of cocaine to Saudi Arabia. The cocaine was allegedly concealed inside 25 phone chargers.
The agency recorded more interceptions throughout the week. On Monday, August 3, operatives foiled an attempt to export 500 grams of cocaine to Italy after discovering the drug hidden in the false bottom of a backpack.
On Tuesday, August 4, another operation at a shipping hub led to the seizure of 2.3 kilograms of “Loud”, a high-potency strain of cannabis, in an inbound consignment from the United States.
The crackdown moved beyond airports and shipping facilities to Nigeria’s highways. Along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway, NDLEA patrol officers intercepted a truck heading north with 1,633 kilograms of skunk concealed inside bags of rice shafts.
Two suspected transit handlers, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested.
In a separate operation at Ita Ogbolu, operatives recovered another 147 kilograms of skunk from a forest.
In Oyo State, NDLEA officers raided a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, recovering 731.03 kilograms of illicit drugs and arresting 57-year-old Felicia Thompson. Her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, is reportedly still at large.
The enforcement wave continued in Edo State, where NDLEA operatives, working with soldiers, seized 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5 kilograms at Ewe Luleha in Owan West Local Government Area.
In Abia State, tactical teams shut down an active drug bunk at the Samec by Powerline base in Osisioma Local Government Area, arresting 31-year-old Chibuike Charles with seven kilograms of skunk.
In Badagry, Lagos, a wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug jungle with 88.5 kilograms of skunk. He had reportedly been evading arrest for three months.
At the Tincan Port Complex, a joint security team inspecting a 40-foot container uncovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cookies and gummies infused with cannabis, weighing 309.4 kilograms. Larry Nnaji was arrested in connection with the shipment.
Beyond the seizures and arrests, NDLEA formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The agency delivered lectures and awareness programmes for students and faculty at Islamic High School in Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy in Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya in Gaya, Kano State.
The Rivers State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt.
Commending the frontline officers, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), recognised the DOGI, AIIA, Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan Commands for the high-impact operations.
Marwa urged the commands and other formations across the country to remain committed to what he described as the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
The latest operations highlight the increasingly complex methods allegedly being used by drug trafficking networks—from ingesting cocaine and concealing drugs in phone chargers and backpacks to hiding cannabis in trucks, warehouses and containers.
For the NDLEA, the message remains clear: the war against drug abuse and trafficking is being taken to the airports, ports, highways, communities and every point where criminal networks attempt to move illicit drugs across Nigeria’s borders.
