The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a major operational success in Delta State with the interception of two commercial buses conveying a large consignment of illicit drugs valued at about ₦300 million.

Delta State Command’s spokesman, John Kennedy Edozien, confirmed on Sunday that the operation was carried out on January 15, 2026, along the busy Asaba–Onitsha expressway, a route increasingly identified by law enforcement agencies as a transit hub for narcotics distribution within the South-South and beyond.

Edoziem said the operation was executed by a team of NDLEA operatives led by the State Commander, CN Halilu Hamidu, PhD, following credible intelligence.

The team intercepted the buses and arrested two suspects, identified as Zaharadeen Yahaya (25) and Sanusi Maman (23).

A breakdown of the seized exhibits revealed the sheer magnitude of the haul: 410,800 pills of tramadol, 84.2 litres of codeine syrup, 82,250 tablets of diazepam, 900 tablets of swinol, and 65 pills of molly.

NDLEA officials described the seizure as one of the most significant in the state in recent months, reflecting both the profitability of the illicit drug trade and the growing sophistication of trafficking networks.

While commending the operatives for what he described as a “diligent and intelligence-driven operation,” Commander Hamidu warned that the volume of drugs intercepted highlights a broader national challenge.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to disrupting supply chains and preventing dangerous substances from reaching communities, particularly youths.

He also called on members of the public to support the NDLEA with timely and actionable information, stressing that community cooperation remains critical to winning the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

The suspects are currently in NDLEA custody and are expected to be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations, as the agency intensifies efforts to dismantle the networks behind the movement and distribution of illicit drugs across the State, Edozien assured.

In other news, the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered cocaine weighing 25.5 kilogrammes onboard the Brazilian ship MV San Anthonio.

According to a statement released today by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Suleiman, the illicit drugs, packaged in 24 parcels/slabs, were hidden in five bags found aboard the ship during customs intelligence-led checks, which also resulted in the detention of the vessel.

The Customs Area Controller for the Apapa Port Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, said customs intelligence revealed that after the ship departed from Brazil, its country of origin, it made calls at ports in Honduras, Guatemala, and other locations suspected to be hubs for illicit drug trafficking.

Oshoba reiterated the NCS’s resolve in ensuring that only legitimate trade thrives at the Port of Apapa in Lagos, following a zero-compromise directive by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.