…Intercepts China shipment, seizes “Loud” concealed in handbags

An 84-year-old man, Godfrey Orji, and a 75-year-old, Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora, are currently in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly dealing in illicit substances supplied to teenage secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State.

Obiora was arrested on Friday, June 19, 2026, following credible intelligence that he was selling illicit drugs to students and other customers from his patent medicine store at 4 Club Road, Umuahia. A search of the premises led to the recovery of 4.64 kilogrammes of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.

In a separate case, Orji, a pensioner, was arrested by security personnel at Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia, after he was allegedly caught supplying illicit drugs to two students. The suspects were handed over to the police, who later transferred the case to the NDLEA on Thursday, June 18.

One of the students, a 15-year-old SS2 pupil, reportedly confessed that the 84-year-old supplied him with drugs, which he consumed and also sold to fellow students.

The two elderly suspects are expected to be charged to court, while the students have been placed under counselling and rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives have intercepted a consignment of ADB-Chminaca, a synthetic cannabinoid classified as a dangerous new psychoactive substance, at a courier company in Lagos. The shipment, originating from China, weighed 9.5 kilogrammes and was concealed in a carton.

In another operation, officers intercepted 300 grammes of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, hidden inside ladies’ handbags at a logistics company in Lagos.

Also in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided the residence of a wanted drug dealer, Lukman Badmus (also known as Lukman Ogombo), in the Ogombo area of Ajah, where nine bottles of codeine syrup and 30 grammes of skunk were recovered.
A follow-up operation at his wife’s shop in the Patey area of Lagos Island led to the recovery of two additional bottles of codeine and drug paraphernalia. In addition, 42 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 22.5 kilogrammes were discovered in a minibus parked outside the shop.

During the raid, the suspect’s wife, Aisha Saraki, allegedly attempted to dispose of some evidence by flushing items down a toilet, but she was stopped by operatives.
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene–Lokoja highway intercepted a suspect, Tochukwu Onah, 33, who was travelling from Lagos to Abuja with 1.03 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in custard containers.

In Ekiti State, a couple, James Tony Chukwudi, 48, and James Kehinde, 35, wanted in connection with the seizure of 117 kilogrammes of skunk in March 2026, were arrested at Oniyo Street, Efon-Alaaye, after months on the run.
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 75-year-old Tudun Olubiyi alongside Nasiru Buhari, 22, and Buba Musa, 47, during a raid on a house in the Dangote area of Elekara, Oyo Town. The operation led to the recovery of 118 jumbo bags containing 1,416 kilogrammes of skunk concealed under sawdust.

In Edo State, Patrick Imoukhede, 45, was arrested after operatives raided Khagba Forest, Ikao, Owan East LGA, where 1,744.075 kilogrammes of skunk were destroyed and 169 kilogrammes of already processed cannabis were recovered.

In another raid at Ebora Camp, Ilushi, Esan South East LGA, 2,424.945 kilogrammes of cannabis were destroyed, while Augustine Anyamone, 45, was arrested with 395 kilogrammes of skunk.

The agency also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across the country, with lectures held in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities.
The campaign reached institutions including Orun Community Grammar School, Ekiti; Government Girls Secondary School, Kano; Federal Technical College, Nasarawa; Tafida Community Secondary School, Katsina; and Government Technical College, Anambra, among others.

The Rivers State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Paramount Ruler of Rumuogba Kingdom, HRH Barr. Temple Ejekwu.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across Abia, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Kogi, and Edo Commands for their operational successes and urged them to sustain the momentum in both enforcement and public sensitisation efforts.