NDLEA arrests notorious drug kingpin after 7-year manhunt, seizes 11.6kg cocaine, meth

...Raids Lagos hotel, intercepts Italy, Pakistan-bound shipments in cereal packs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has captured a notorious drug kingpin, Mr Okpara Paul Chigozie, ending a seven-year pursuit that spanned multiple states and international networks.

The 60-year-old fugitive, long wanted for trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, was arrested in Lagos alongside huge quantities of illicit substances.

According to NDLEA, operatives stormed 72 Michael Ojo Street, Isheri, Ojo LGA, Lagos on Sunday, 13th July 2025, after intercepting a courier of the suspect earlier that morning at Ilasamaja, along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

At about 5:45am, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence intercepted Mr Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi (51), one of Okpara’s couriers, while en route to Onitsha, Anambra State in a white Toyota Sienna. Sniffer dogs deployed at the scene uncovered 7.6kg of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine hidden within the vehicle’s compartments.

A swift follow-up raid at Okpara’s residence yielded another 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg methamphetamine, further cementing the scale of his operations.

At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA operatives in joint action with Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security arrested Mr Omoregie Nice Uyiosa, an Italy-bound passenger caught with 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol in his luggage on Wednesday, 16th July 2025.

Another suspect, Mr Chioba Robert Uchenna, was arrested on Thursday, 17th July after attempting to ship 1.70kg of skunk concealed in Golden Morn cereal packs to Pakistan.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided Sarah Sam Hotels, Kosofe LGA, on Saturday, 19th July, busting a party drug network led by Mr Obayemi Oyetade. The operation uncovered 1.30kg chocolate cannabis, 900 grams of drug-laced gummies, and 22.9 grams of skunk, alongside three vehicles linked to the illicit trade.

In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested Mr Onyeka Madu, Mr Monday Nwadishi, and Mr Emmanuel Madu in the Narayi High Cost area of Chikun Local Government Area. The trio was caught with 742.866 kilograms of skunk and Colorado, a potent synthetic cannabis strain.

In Kano, officers intercepted Mr Lawan Rabiu along the Danbatta-Kazaure Road, recovering 36,000 pills of tramadol from his possession.

Also, in Gombe State, Mr Mohammed Adamu and Mrs Furaira Idris were apprehended in Yemaltu Deba Local Government Area with 29kg of compressed skunk concealed in their vehicle.

In Bayelsa State, a 63-year-old woman, Mrs Akuna Nelson, was arrested at Osiri area of Yenagoa with 163 litres of skuchies, a locally brewed drug-laced drink notorious among youths.

In Abia State, NDLEA officers raided the residence of Mr Nduka Obi (39) at 4 Niger Street, Ugwa Road, Aba, where they discovered quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, and ₦736,000 cash suspected to be proceeds from drug sales.

In a statement signed by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s Chairman/CEO, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised officers across Lagos, Osun, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Borno, Bayelsa, Abia, Kogi, Enugu and Taraba for balancing drug supply reduction and demand reduction strategies in their operations.