The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs worth more than N3.4bn in operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a fake police officer, an auto mechanic and several other suspects arrested.
The seizures included more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids, about 6,000kg of cannabis and other illicit substances, according to the agency.
The NDLEA also intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.81bn at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Babafemi said the consignment arrived from Montreal, Canada, on September 12 and was placed under intensive monitoring following intelligence received by the agency.
He said the container was subjected to a joint physical examination by NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on Wednesday, September 16.
“The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded in two Toyota Sienna vehicles within the 40-foot container,” the statement added.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 49-year-old man, Innocent Ekpe, who allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit drugs.
Babafemi said Ekpe was arrested on Wednesday, September 16, along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba with 292.48kg of skunk concealed in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
“The 49-year-old fake police officer Innocent Ekpe was arrested on Wednesday 16th September 2026 by NDLEA operatives along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, with 292.48 kilograms of skunk hidden in his silver Toyota Sienna bus.
“Investigation established that Ekpe had long paraded himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged ID card to escape scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit consignments. An accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was arrested along with him,” he said.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided an auto-repair workshop on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.
According to Babafemi, 48kg of Canadian Loud and 152g of methamphetamine were recovered from the workshop, which the agency alleged was being used as a storage point for illicit drugs.
In Niger State, three suspects, Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, were arrested along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi in Tafa Local Government Area.
Babafemi said the suspects were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.
Similarly, two suspects, Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, were arrested on Friday along the Abaji-Abuja Highway.
The NDLEA spokesman said more than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets were recovered from the suspects.
He said the drugs were allegedly concealed in eight sacks while being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
In Lagos, 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg were recovered from a suspect, Onyeka Ofor, who was arrested at his residence in Aguda, Surulere.
Another suspect, Luke Ugokwe, was arrested after seven cartons of cannabis weighing 59kg were intercepted at a logistics company.
Babafemi also said operatives arrested 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu at Apongbo, Lagos, where 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas was recovered.
In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects, Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested at Barunde and Gombe Main Market respectively.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives arrested 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State with 43.85kg of skunk.
In Ondo State, four suspects were arrested during a raid and destruction of a 5,000kg cannabis farm covering two hectares in Ita-Ogbolu Forest.
The suspects were identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday.
The agency said 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered from the farm for prosecution.
Commending officers and men of the affected commands, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s intelligence-driven operations.
Marwa also called for the continuation of what he described as a balanced approach to drug control efforts across the country.