Abuja, Nov. 26, 2025 – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has bursted an opioids cartel from which illicit substances worth over N6.7 billion were intercepted.
The cartel, led by Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu with five members, was arrested through intelligence-led operation in their secret warehouse in a residential estate in Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA Spokesman, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement said the syndicate was arrested while preparing to distribute over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million milliliters) of codeine syrup ahead of the Christmas season.
It said the NDLEA operatives of the Special Operations Unit carried out coordinated raids between Nov. 19 and Nov. 20, 2025.
“Officers of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA led a well-coordinated operation between Wednesday, 19th and Thursday, 20th November 2025, to round up members of the syndicate and dismantle their criminal network.
“Two members of the DTO: Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel were trailed and arrested at Apple Junction, Festac area of Lagos 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 Chukwuebuka Philip.
“In all, a total of Seven million two Hundred and seventy two thousand (7,272,000) pills of tramadol 225mg worth Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty Million Naira (N3,960,000,000) and 53 million mills of codeine syrup valued at over Two Billion Seven Hundred and Sixty Two Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N2,762,550,000), bringing the combined value of the seized drugs to Six Billion Seven Hundred and Twenty Two Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N6,722,550,000.00) only in street value were recovered and moved out of the estate in eleven trucks to NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos.
“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement.
“The seizure of this colossal volume of illicit drugs, which could have fueled addiction, crime, and insecurity across our nation, represents a victory for the Nigerian people and a confirmation of our unwavering commitment to the mandate given to us by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, Marwa stated.
He emphasised that the Agency’s focus remains squarely on the kingpins and financiers of the illicit drug trade.
