Hidden drug warehouses uncovered in Lagos as NDLEA seizes N16.9b haul

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have raided three illicit drug warehouses concealed within a residential estate in the Okota area of Lagos, recovering 2,360,000 pills of high-potency tramadol (225mg) and 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup with a combined street value of N16,927,200,000.

The intelligence-led, coordinated operations were carried out on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 98 Olukayode Awofisayo Street, Park View Estate, Ago Palace, Okota, where a large warehouse was uncovered, as well as at 5 Charles Ndumetu Street, Park View Estate, Ago Palace, Okota, Lagos State, where two additional facilities were discovered.

Recovered from the three warehouses were 19,094 cartons containing 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup, and a further 2,360,000 pills of high-potency tramadol (225mg) stored in 34 cartons.

Reacting, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the operation had dealt a significant blow to the pharmaceutical black market and led to the dismantling of a major drug syndicate in the country.

Marwa commended the operatives involved, describing the seizure as a major milestone in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. According to him, the scale of the recovery—nearly 4.3 million units—demonstrates that the agency remains ahead of criminal networks.

“To find such volumes hidden within residential estates like Park View and busy hubs like Okota shows the desperation of these cartels, but it also highlights the intelligence capabilities of our team,” he said.

He reiterated that there is no haven for drug traffickers in Nigeria, adding that whether illicit drugs are concealed in upscale residences or suburban warehouses, the agency’s reach remains extensive and its resolve firm.

“Let this be a clear signal to those who think they can profit from the destruction of our children’s futures: we will find you, we will dismantle your networks, and we will bring the full weight of the law upon you,” he warned.