- Also arms cache in Kaduna
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a major drug trafficking network involving illicit consignments concealed in water purifier machines imported from Europe, while also intercepting a cache of military-grade ammunition in Kaduna State, in what officials described as a series of significant breakthroughs in the agency’s nationwide offensive against organised crime.
The spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, said NDLEA operatives discovered and seized three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, also known as Ecstasy, hidden inside water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos.
The illicit consignments were uncovered at a courier facility on May 26 in Lagos, following intelligence-led operations, exposing yet another attempt by international drug syndicates to exploit commercial cargo channels to move narcotics into Nigeria.
The seizure comes amid growing concerns over the increasing sophistication of transnational drug trafficking organisations, which have adopted elaborate concealment methods to evade law enforcement agencies.
In one of the most startling discoveries during the week, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway intercepted a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, with 380 rounds of military-grade RLA 7.62mm ammunition allegedly being transported to Katsina State.
The interception occurred near Jere in Kaduna State on May 24. NDLEA said the suspect and the ammunition were subsequently handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The recovery of military-grade ammunition by anti-narcotics operatives has heightened concerns over the possible links between drug trafficking networks and the movement of weapons across regions grappling with banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
Also in Kaduna, the agency dismantled what appeared to be a major cannabis distribution operation after arresting a couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, alongside another suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, 38.
A search of their residence in the Gonin Gora area led to the recovery of 100 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,246 kilograms, one of the largest single cannabis seizures recorded by the command in recent months.
In neighbouring Niger State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, where they recovered an additional 457 kilograms of skunk.
Investigators later tracked and arrested a suspect, Godwin Zakka, 46, at his residence in the Gbeganu area of Minna in connection with the warehouse operation.
The agency also recorded a significant pharmaceutical drug seizure in Enugu State, where operatives on patrol along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway intercepted a commercial vehicle travelling to Taraba State.
A search of the vehicle uncovered 22,000 pills of tramadol, 100 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 grams of bromazepam. One suspect, James Maigari Wisdom, was arrested.
The latest operations reflect NDLEA’s sustained strategy of targeting both imported narcotics and locally distributed illicit substances, while simultaneously disrupting supply chains across key transit corridors.
Beyond enforcement activities, the agency said its commands and formations nationwide continued to intensify advocacy campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
During the week, anti-drug sensitisation programmes were conducted in schools across several states, including Government Secondary School, Adiabo in Cross River State; St Patrick’s Memorial College, Wukari in Taraba State; Roman Catholic Mission Nursery and Primary School, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos State; and Kings Secondary School, Amawbia in Anambra State.
Commending officers and personnel involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the efforts of the Kaduna, Niger and Enugu Commands as well as the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI).
Marwa said the agency’s successes demonstrated the effectiveness of combining aggressive supply-reduction operations with sustained public enlightenment campaigns, urging officers nationwide to intensify the offensive against drug cartels and other criminal networks threatening public safety and national security.