Crime
.NDLEA Busts UK Colos Pipeline, Seizes 2.3 Tonnes of Drugs
.NDLEA Busts UK Colos Pipeline, Seizes 2.3 Tonnes of Drugs
…Real estate agent, 70-year-old woman, others arrested as traffickers hide opioids in bread, music speakers
By: Michael Mike
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled multiple drug trafficking networks operating across eight states, intercepting consignments from the United Kingdom and recovering more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs, including synthetic cannabis, tramadol, pregabalin and cannabis.
The operations, which also exposed the increasingly elaborate methods used by traffickers to move narcotics, resulted in the arrest of a real estate agent, a tour agent, a 70-year-old woman and several other suspects.
The spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, said operatives intercepted two consignments of Colorado, also known as Colos, concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
He revealed that in the first seizure, 27 parcels of the synthetic cannabis weighing 32.2 kilogrammes were recovered from a large luggage. A real estate agent, Abideen Salami, who arrived to collect the consignment using a secret collection code allegedly sent by his UK-based brother, was arrested last Wednesday.
He noted that a follow-up operation linked to a second UK shipment led to the arrest of Nurudeen Kadiri, 44, who was designated to receive another consignment of Colorado weighing 12.25 kilogrammes. The suspect reportedly told investigators that his brother in the UK sent the drugs.
The agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) also uncovered attempts to conceal Colorado in music equipment. At Maza Maza motor park in Lagos, operatives recovered three packs of the substance hidden inside a music speaker rigged for onward transportation to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and ultimately Liberia.
A tour agent, Ifeanyi Augustine, 41, and the alleged owner of the consignment, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, were arrested during a sting operation at a nearby eatery.
At Iddo motor park, another suspect, Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry, was arrested on Friday, September 11, while attempting to dispatch 2.1 kilogrammes of Colorado to Kano.
The agency’s operations in other states revealed that the trafficking networks extended beyond synthetic cannabis to prescription drugs and other controlled substances.
In Delta State, separate operations in Ughelli and Asaba led to the recovery of ampoules of pentazocine injection, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, popularly known as Hypnox, and MDMA, also called Molly. Some of the drugs were concealed in music speakers.
Two suspects, Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi, were arrested in connection with the seizures.
In Kano, a raid at Sabon Gari resulted in the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu with 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425 kilogrammes.
A separate stop-and-search operation along the Zaria–Kano–Hadejia road uncovered 1,700 tablets of diazepam hidden inside loaves of bread. The drugs were seized from Habibu Sabitu, 28.
At Katako Market, Jos, Plateau State, operatives arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.
The NDLEA also intensified its assault on cannabis cultivation and distribution. In Edo State, operatives destroyed 4,832.56 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis on farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest and Ogboha Forest, covering Ovia South-West, Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas. A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested on Friday, September 11.
In Akure, Ondo State, operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a residence along Oke-Iya, Ijoka Road, on Wednesday, September 9. They recovered 186 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in the boot of a Toyota Avalon car marked ABJ 917 FV.
The consignment was allegedly being prepared for transportation to Jos for onward distribution. A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested.
In Kaduna State, a female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested at Gonin Gora with 369.6 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Four suspects were also arrested at Ovom, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where operatives recovered 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876 kilogrammes. Those arrested included 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver, 44, Pere Andrew, 39, and Keme Andrew, 43.
The latest seizures bring into focus the scale and geographical spread of the agency’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking, with operations cutting across airport cargo channels, motor parks, residential premises, road corridors, markets and cannabis farms.
Beyond enforcement, the agency said its commands and formations sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the week.
Commending the officers and men of the DOGI, MMIA, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Plateau, Bayelsa and Kano Commands, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), charged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
Marwa urged officers to continue shutting down the pipelines used by drug cartels, whether through airports, seaports, land borders or the hinterland where cannabis is cultivated.
.NDLEA Busts UK Colos Pipeline, Seizes 2.3 Tonnes of Drugs
Troops arrest 13 suspected illegal miners at newly excavated site in Abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation MESA have arrested 13 suspected illegal miners at a newly excavated mining site in the Shere general area of Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Security sources said the suspects were apprehended at about 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2026, by troops of the 7 Guards Battalion during an operation in the area.
The suspects were reportedly found at a newly excavated site suspected to be operating illegally.
The 13 suspects are currently in military custody for further action.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by security forces to curb illegal mining activities, prevent the exploitation of mineral resources by unauthorised operators and address associated security concerns within the FCT.
Troops arrest 13 suspected illegal miners at newly excavated site in Abuja
Three killed in attack on illegal mining site in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Three people have been killed in an attack on an illegal mining site between Jol and Tashek communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 8:10 p.m. on Nov. 10, prompting troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), deployed at Dakku, to respond to the distress report.
The troops, upon arrival at the scene, discovered that members of the community had evacuated three bodies of victims killed during the attack.
Efforts are ongoing to track down the assailants, with troops deploying an EIB Stratoc drone to support surveillance and intelligence gathering around the area.
The troops have also intensified patrols and maintained an aggressive security presence in the general area to prevent further attacks.
The incident comes amid recurring security concerns around illegal mining sites in parts of Plateau State, where disputes over access to mineral resources and control of mining locations have reportedly triggered violent confrontations.
There have been instances in which illegal miners allegedly attack one another over control of mining resources, while other incidents have involved armed groups reportedly targeting mining locations.
In some cases, suspected Fulani armed bandits have also been accused of attacking illegal mining sites, allegedly using such locations to carry out revenge attacks.
However, the circumstances surrounding the latest incident, including the identities of the attackers and their motive, remain unclear.
The recurring violence point to the need for stronger security measures and effective enforcement against illegal mining, which has increasingly become a source of criminal activity, economic exploitation and insecurity in parts of the state.
Security agencies are working to establish the circumstances of the attack and bring those responsible to justice.
Three killed in attack on illegal mining site in Plateau
Troops, hunters neutralise ISWAP terrorist in ambush operation in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 27 Task Force Brigade, Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with local hunters, have neutralised a suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist during an ambush operation in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Security sources said the operation was part of ongoing efforts by troops and local security partners to dismantle terrorist networks and restrict their movements within the area.
The joint team reportedly laid an ambush on the suspected terrorists, leading to the neutralisation of one ISWAP fighter.
Troops, hunters neutralise ISWAP terrorist in ambush operation in Yobe
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