In a major crackdown, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives have dismantled a large-scale opioid cartel after raiding a secret warehouse in a residential estate in Lagos. Authorities recovered illicit substances with a street value of approximately ₦6.7 billion.
The operation resulted in the arrest of alleged cartel leader Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu along with five other members of his network. The bust underscores the Agency’s renewed push against drug trafficking ahead of the festive season.
What Was Seized: The Scale of the Haul
- The raid recovered roughly 7,272,000 pills of 225 mg Tramadol — valued at about ₦3.96 billion.
- Also seized were 526,200 bottles (≈ 52.6 million ml) of Codeine syrup, worth about ₦2.76 billion.
- The drugs were stored at a compound located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, in the Isolo area of Lagos.
- These illicit substances were reportedly destined for widespread distribution, potentially fueling addiction and crime during the approaching Christmas season.
NDLEA operatives evacuated the haul in 11 trucks to the Agency’s central exhibit complex in Lagos — a logistical indication of the magnitude of the seizure.
Behind the Raid: How the Cartel Was Unmasked
The successful strike followed credible intelligence indicating that the drug trafficking organisation (DTO) was preparing large-scale distribution.
- On November 19, two members of the syndicate — Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel — were arrested at Apple Junction, Festac, while transporting 300 cartons of opioids.
- A follow-up raid on November 20 at the warehouse led to the apprehension of Nwanagu and additional suspects, effectively dismantling the cartel’s network.
According to NDLEA’s Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), this operation makes a “clear and unambiguous statement” that drug barons can no longer operate with impunity.
