Crime

NDLEA Cracks Multi-State Drug Syndicates, Arrests Septuagenarian

Per Second NewsJune 7, 20262 Mins read95

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

A 75-year-old grandpa in Ebonyi State is among several suspects arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during coordinated operations that also led to the interception of large consignments of opioids concealed in building materials across parts of the country.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed details of the successful interception in a statement shared with Persecondnews on Sunday.

The septuagenarian, Okebe Samuel, was arrested at Okposi and allegedly found with 300 grams of skunk packaged in retail sachets reportedly meant for sale to youths in the community.

Meanwhile, in a major bust in Taraba State was recorded on Saturday, June 6, 2026, when NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a truck transporting building materials from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Jalingo.

A thorough search of the vehicle at the Nukkai Timber Shade in Jalingo uncovered a large quantity of drugs hidden beneath the cargo, while a 22-year-old suspect, Buhari Abdullahi, was arrested.

In connection with the search, 320,840 capsules of tramadol, 600 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 4,500 pills of rohypnol, and 299 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup were recovered from the truck.

Similarly, NDLEA officers raided a known drug enclave at Umulolo in Orlu, Imp State, leading to the arrest of 32-year-old Chioma Okeke and the recovery of eight kilograms of skunk.

In another development, operatives in Edo State carried out raids across notorious drug hotspots in Benin City on Tuesday, June 2, resulting in the arrest of four suspected traffickers, including three women.

Officers arrested Chioma Igba, 24, and Precious Ozomah, 22, with 176 grams of skunk, 65 grams of Loud, and five grams of methamphetamine, at Uyosa, Benin City.

Another suspect, Anita Abraham, 21, was arrested along Agbor Road with 95 grams of Scottish Loud and 329 grams of regular Loud.

Henry Okey, 43, was apprehended with substances including Loud, Colorado, Swinol and Methamphetamine in Upper Mission, Benin City.

Elsewhere in Kano State, NDLEA operatives arrested 19-year-old Saifullahi Lawan at Kafi area in Madobi on Thursday, June 4, with 40 blocks of skunk weighing 38 kilograms.

Following intelligence, operatives intercepted 28-year-old Ugwu Sabastine Ifebuchi near Dantiti Plaza in the Tumfure area of Gombe State, on Monday, June 1, with 15,000 capsules of tramadol.

The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across the country, with awareness lectures held in schools in Oyo, Lagos, Anambra and Kano states, among others.

Retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA commended officers across the affected commands for their successful operations and urged them to maintain the momentum in both drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts nationwide.