Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected drug baron, Onyekachi Nwanagu, and five members of his network during an intelligence-led operation that uncovered a large opioid warehouse in the Isolo area of Lagos.
The NDLEA said the raid, carried out by its Special Operations Unit between November 19 and 20, followed intelligence that the syndicate was preparing to distribute over 7.2 million tramadol pills and more than 526,000 bottles of codeine syrup ahead of the festive season.
In a statement on Wednesday, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said two suspects, Egbo Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, were first arrested on November 19 at Apple Junction, Festac, while allegedly transporting 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.
He said a follow-up operation at the group’s warehouse the next day led to the arrest of Nwanagu and three others: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Philip.
According to Babafemi, “Following credible intelligence that the drug trafficking organisation was about to distribute over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million ml) of codeine syrup warehoused in a residential compound located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri area of Isolo, Lagos State, ahead of the Christmas festive season, two members of the DTO — Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel — were trailed and arrested at Apple Junction, Festac, on Wednesday, 19th November, while conveying 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.
“A follow-up operation to the syndicate’s warehouse at Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, the following day, Thursday, 20th November, led to the arrest of Onyekachi Nwanagu and other members of his syndicate, including Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Philip.”
He added that operatives recovered 7,272,000 tramadol 225mg pills valued at N3.96 billion and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup worth over N2.76 billion.
“In all, a total of 7,272,000 pills of tramadol 225mg worth N3,960,000,000 and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup valued at over N2,762,550,000, bringing the combined street value of the seized drugs to N6,722,550,000, were recovered and moved out of the estate in eleven trucks to the NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos,” he said.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), commended the officers involved, describing the operation as a significant disruption of criminal drug networks.
He said the seizure prevented substances that could have contributed to addiction and insecurity nationwide, adding that the agency would continue to target drug kingpins and their financiers.
The NDLEA has intensified nationwide operations targeting large-scale drug trafficking networks ahead of the Christmas season.
On Sunday, The PUNCH reported that operatives of the agency arrested a woman, Oluchi Celestine, in the Lekki area of Lagos on November 18 after she was found with 2.6kg of Colorado, some of which had been concealed in branded containers and inside flight boarding passes.
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