Three dispatch riders have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Abuja for allegedly distributing illicit substances across the Federal Capital Territory.
The suspects, identified as Sabo Sule, 24, Samuel Nnamdi, 28, and Idris Jibrin, 28, were arrested during intelligence-led stop and search operations carried out in the Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that a total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, were recovered from the suspects.
He noted that the trio operated using motorcycles typically employed for commercial dispatch services, making it easier for them to disguise their illicit trade under the cover of legitimate deliveries.
Meanwhile, Babafemi also announced that the agency intercepted a consignment of tramadol and cocaine concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors.
The shipment, which was being processed through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, was en route to Libreville, Gabon. The first batch of the cargo, consisting of 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.60 kilograms, was seized on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Following the seizure, a popular cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, was arrested. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of another suspect, Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah, on Sunday, July 20. Eleven additional parcels of cocaine weighing one kilogram were later recovered from four side mirrors found in Uzochukwu’s residence, raising the total to 68 parcels weighing 2.60 kilograms.
In another development, NDLEA operatives arrested a businesswoman, Nwafor Nneka, at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos. Her arrest followed the earlier interception of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine—used as a cutting agent—concealed in ladies’ lipsticks.
The shipment was being prepared for export to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, through the Lagos airport on July 10. Nwafor, who reportedly runs the drug operation with her husband Remigus Nwafor, admitted in her statement to purchasing the lipsticks used for concealment. Her husband remains at large.
In a series of other arrests nationwide, NDLEA operatives also apprehended Joseph Michael in the Mushin area of Lagos with 3.3 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis. In the Iwaya area of Yaba, one Ibrahim Sulaiman was arrested with 16.5 litres of skuchies.
On August 1, a suspect named Hussein Yusuf, 37, was intercepted at an NDLEA checkpoint along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road in Benue State with 100,000 tramadol capsules. That same day, officers in Edo State raided a warehouse in Ekpoma, where a suspect, William Alabi, 44, was found with 233.5 kilograms of skunk.
At the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri, Borno State, operatives arrested a 38-year-old passenger, Umar Aminu, after discovering 160 tramadol pills concealed in footwear upon his arrival on August 1.
In Ogun State, NDLEA officers raided the Oja Odan area where a female suspect, Yahaya Aminat Seyi, was arrested with 7,218 pills of opioids, mostly tramadol.
In Bayelsa State, Chief Emeka Opara, 52, and Onuoha Chidinma, 25, were arrested along Tantua Road in Amassoma. From their shop and residence, NDLEA officials recovered 41,705 tramadol capsules and other assorted opioids.
In Kano State, a suspect identified as Bashir Gambo, 30, was arrested in Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada Local Government Area, with 61 kilograms of skunk.
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives arrested Kabiru Ayinde, 40, and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, on Monday, July 28, at Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town. Recovered from them were 90 kilograms of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus with registration number SMK 755 YF, and cash totaling ₦228,200.
According to Babafemi, all suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations, as the agency continues its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks.
