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| Drug Barons. |
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the dismantling of a major opioids syndicate after an intelligence-driven operation that led to the arrest of drug kingpin Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu and five members of his network. Illicit substances valued at more than N6.7 billion were recovered from a concealed warehouse inside a residential estate in Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, credible intelligence revealed that the drug trafficking organisation was preparing to circulate over 7.2 million tramadol 225mg pills and 526,200 bottles of codeine syrup stored at a residential building on 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, Isolo, ahead of the Christmas season. This prompted a coordinated operation between Wednesday, 19th November, and Thursday, 20th November 2025 by officers of the Special Operations Unit.
Two members of the group, Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, were initially trailed and arrested at Apple Junction, Festac, where they were transporting 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.
A follow-up raid on the warehouse the next day led to the arrest of the suspected kingpin, Onyekachi Nwanagu, along with other members of his syndicate: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
A total of 7,272,000 tramadol pills valued at N3.96 billion and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup worth N2.76 billion were recovered, putting the overall street value at N6.72 billion. The seized drugs were evacuated in eleven trucks to the NDLEA’s central exhibit facility in Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers involved in the operation, describing the breakthrough as a significant setback for drug cartels targeting the country’s youth population.
Marwa stated that the seizure represents “a victory for the Nigerian people” and a reaffirmation of the agency’s commitment to the mandate given by President Bola Tinubu.
He stressed that the NDLEA remains focused on pursuing the major financiers behind the illicit drug trade, warning that the era of untouchable drug barons had come to an end.
He added that the arrest of the syndicate leader and his associates demonstrates that “the long arm of the law will always reach every merchant of death, no matter how hidden they believe they are.”
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