Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 93-year-old man and a 69-year-old medical doctor as the agency intensifies intelligence-led operations against drug cartels and their collaborators across the country.

In Abia State, a nonagenarian, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was arrested at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Council on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. A search of his home led to the recovery of 7.7 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis. The suspect said he previously worked as a truck pusher and later learnt painting and tiling before entering the illicit drug trade over a year ago. He also said he had been smoking skunk since 1959 before turning it into a business.

The agency also uncovered links to an international drug syndicate with the arrest of an Ivorian, Gohouri Michael, 41, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. He was apprehended on Monday, February 16, 2026, during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan via Addis Ababa. He was found with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilogrammes and was expected to be paid 5,000 euros upon delivery.

Investigations revealed that Gohouri had arrived in Lagos from Milan on January 17, 2026 and travelled between Lagos and Enugu for weeks before moving to Kano, where he ingested the drug consignment in a hotel.

Further intelligence led to the arrest of a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr Chudi Daniel Ofomata, identified as a key figure directing the operation. He was apprehended at his residence in Teachers’ Land Estate, Magboro, Ogun State on March 27, 2026, and later flown to Kano on Tuesday, April 7. Recovered from him were 63 grammes of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection.

In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects: Azeez Sanni, Olayinka Oke and Adekunle Adeyemi with 34 kilogrammes of skunk during a raid at Sango Under Bridge, Sango Ota on Tuesday, April 7. In Imo State, 56.2 kilogrammes of the same substance was recovered from a 26-year-old woman, Ayoka Akinwale, along the Onitsha–Owerri road on Saturday, April 11.

In Niger State, a couple, Abdullahi Umar, 32, and Adama Umar, 25, were arrested on Thursday, April 9, at their residence in Takuti village, Lapai Local Council, where 118 kilogrammes of skunk was recovered from their kitchen.

NDLEA officers on patrol along the Damaturu–Maiduguri road in Borno State intercepted a trailer loaded with vehicle spare parts from Nnewi, Anambra State.

A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of about 42,290 tablets of Rohypnol, 82,700 millilitres of codeine syrup and 10,000 millilitres of pentazocine injection. The owner of the consignment, Eleje Ibeabuchi, 43, was later arrested.

In Lagos, operatives intercepted a Chisco Transport luxury bus marked AGU 442 XB heading to Port Harcourt on Tuesday, April 7, along the Lagos–Ibadan expressway. A search revealed 15 kilogrammes of “Scottish Loud”, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in a compartment of the bus. Two suspects, Kingsley Nsofor and Opara Ifeanyi, were arrested.

In a separate operation in Mushin on Saturday, April 11, NDLEA officers intercepted a truck conveying goods to Onitsha and seized 26,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup. Two suspects, Adesunloye Dada and Chibuzor Chime, were arrested.

In Abuja, a raid on the Tora Bora drug joint on Saturday, April 11, led to the arrest of eight suspects, including Abubakar Muhammad, Ali Isiaka, Obed Moses, Ibrahim Musa, Attahiru Audu, Kabiru Buhari, Oloruntoba Samuel and Ellah Gyandi. A total of 11.516 kilogrammes of skunk was recovered.

In Edo State, operatives intercepted two trucks along Warrake Road in Auchi on Saturday, April 11, carrying bags of processed skunk concealed among cartons of beer. One truck contained 3,900 kilogrammes, while the other carried 3,345 kilogrammes, bringing the total to 7,245 kilogrammes. Five suspects: Ibrahim Abu, 29; Abu Abdullazeez, 28; Jibril Jaminu, 35; Andrew Moses, 22; and Ganiyu Abu, 21, were arrested. The consignments were loaded in Sabongida-Ora, Owan West Local Council, and were heading to Abuja when intercepted.