Tag: NDLEA

S’Arabia free 3 Nigerian pilgrims implicated for drug trafficking

Aminu Imam
S'Arabia frees 3 Nigerians

Three Nigerian pilgrims detained for alleged drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia have been released. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), announced this at a presser yesterday. The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, explained that their release followed an engagement between the NDLEA and the Saudi government. He said the three pilgrims would soon arrive in the country. “Saudi Arabia authorities have released three Nigerian pilgrims who were detained in Jeddah since last month following their arrest over alleged drug trafficking. The 3 Nigerians who were freed…

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NDLEA arrests drug kingpin in Delta, seizes ₦7.8bn opioids

Aminu Imam
NDLEA arrests

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), says it has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Sunday Ibigide, while attempting to move 250 blocks of skunk weighing 138 kilograms, with his distribution bus. Ibigide, who had been on the run for three years, was apprehended on Sunday, August 10, 2025, along with one of his aides, Clement Osuya, in Asaba, Delta, while they were trying to move the illegal drugs for distribution. A statement  issued yesterday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, stated: “Ibigide came under searchlight on 19th March 2022…

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Tinubu rejects NDLEA Bill over crime proceeds clause

Aminu Imam
Tinubu rejects NDLEA Bill

President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill, 2025 into law. The President’s decision not to sign the bill passed by both chambers of the National Assembly was contained in a letter read in the Green Chamber during yesterday’s plenary. The President, citing Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), explained that the proposed law seeks to empower the NDLEA to retain a portion of the proceeds from drug-related crimes, a move he said contradicts existing financial regulations. He noted that under…

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‘Economic hardship fuels drug abuse in Nigeria’, as NDLEA vows crackdown

Aminu Imam
NDLEA vows crackdown

The worsening economic situation in Nigeria is driving more youths into drug abuse, prompting a renewed crackdown by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA). According to a published report,  in Enugu State, many young people, unable to sustain themselves in urban areas, have returned to their villages, only to find life equally challenging. Frustration has led many to seek solace in drugs and alcohol, worsening an already growing crisis. The Enugu State government has announced plans to establish NDLEA operational bases in all 17 local government areas to combat…

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Rivers: NDLEA intercepts N4.4bn in codeine shipment from India

Aminu Imam
NDLEA intercepts

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA)  has recovered 636,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth N4.4 billion in street value, at Port-Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers State. According to a statement issued by agency spokesman Femi Babafemi yesterday in Abuja, the drugs were intercepted in shipments from India on December 9, 11 and 13. He said the seizures were made during a joint examination of four containers by NDLEA officers, men of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies at the port. This, Babafemi said, was made possible following…

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NDLEA intercepts US, Europe-bound N16.68bn drugs in shoe soles

Aminu Imam
NDLEA intercepts

Consignments of opioids concealed in soles of shoes and hair attachments heading to the United States, United Kingdom and Cyprus have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and three courier companies in the State. The Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the seizures in a statement he issued yesterday. Babafemi said a total of 2,118 pills of tramadol concealed in soles of 13 pairs of shoes going to Cyprus were seized at the…

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Senate summons NDLEA over drug abuse allegation against senator

Aminu Imam
Senate summons NDLEA

The 10th enate has summoned the Chairman of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), General Buba Marwa (rtd), to appear before it over allegations raised against the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, (APC, Kwara-South). The Senate has set up a six-member panel to invite all those involved in the accusation raised by NDLEA that Senator Ashiru made disparaging comments on NDLEA last week because he failed to stop the arrest and trial of some people found to be involved in drug abuse in his house. The panel, which…

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NDLEA arrests Canadian woman for importing synthetic cannabis

Aminu Imam
NDLEA arrests Canadian

A 41-year-old woman from Canada, identified as Adrienne Munju, has been apprehended by officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.  This arrest occurred as she attempted to bring in a significant shipment of a potent synthetic cannabis strain known as Canadian Loud.   Ms. Munju was taken into custody on October 3, 2024, during the inbound clearance process for passengers arriving on a KLM flight from Canada. According to a statement from NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, when authorities examined her three bags,…

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NDLEA intercepts N16.1bn worth of opioids in Lagos

Aminu Imam
NDLEA intercepts

Arrests octogenarian, community leaders wives, son for drugs The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted a total of 25 million pills of Tapentadol, an opioid three times stronger than Tramadol, including 350,000 bottles of a codeine-based syrup at the Tin-Can Island port complex in Lagos. Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the seized Tapentadol has an estimated street value of N13.725bn, while the Codeine consignment is worth N2.45bn, bringing the total value of the seizures…

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NDLEA intercepts N9.8bn worth of codeine shipments from India

Aminu Imam
NDLEA intercepts

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), says it has intercepted another batch of seven containers carrying 1, 229, 400 bottles of Codeine worth over N9,835,200,000.00 from India at the Onne Port, in Rivers State. This comes barely three weeks after the agency seized 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup containing 1,050,000 bottles of the opioid worth over N7, 350, 000,00 at the Port-Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers State. According to a statement issued by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, the latest seizure, made on…

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