…Marwa Declares Zero Tolerance for Terror-Linked Drug as Suspect Excretes 45 Cocaine Pellets in Sokoto; 20,000kg Skunk Destroyed in Cross River, IED Materials Recovered in Niger
By Samuel Adeyemi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a fresh consignment of the highly dangerous amphetamine known as Captagon in Kwara State, reaffirming its resolve to prevent the drug from gaining ground in Nigeria.
The agency disclosed on Sunday that the seizure comes nearly five years after its first major interception of the substance in Africa at the Apapa seaport in Lagos.
According to the NDLEA, “Captagon, a small but highly addictive pill prevalent in parts of the Middle East, induces intense euphoria, enabling users to remain awake for extended periods, suppress fear, and engage in risky and violent behaviour.”
The agency further explained that the drug is often linked to militant groups, including those associated with ISIS, which rely on its production and trafficking to fund operations and sustain fighters in conflict zones.
The latest operation occurred on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, when NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Bode Saadu road in Kwara intercepted a passenger vehicle. A search conducted on a 33-year-old suspect, Nasiru Mu’azu, led to the recovery of 10,000 pills of Captagon and additional quantities of Tapentadol.
In a separate operation at the same location on April 24, officers intercepted a trailer concealing large quantities of controlled drugs, including tramadol capsules and injections, Co-codamol, and Bromazepam tablets hidden in a specially constructed compartment. A suspect, Aminu Isah, 24, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
In Oyo State, operatives intercepted a commercial bus along the Ibadan/Oyo expressway and arrested a passenger, Eze Prince Emeka, 33, after a body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit substances. The suspect, who claimed to be a businessman, later excreted 45 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms.
Investigations revealed that he intended to transport the drugs through trans-Saharan routes, using Algeria as a transit point before reaching Europe, after initially attempting to evade airport detection.
Elsewhere, in Edo State, NDLEA officers intercepted a truck along the Benin-Lagos expressway carrying over one million pills of pharmaceutical opioids. Two suspects were arrested, with the consignment reportedly destined for Onitsha.
In Lagos, a suspect was apprehended with 810 kilograms of a cannabis strain known as Arizona, while in Bauchi State, another individual was arrested with 154.5 kilograms of skunk.
Further seizures were recorded in Ekiti State, where nearly half a tonne of skunk was recovered from a residential building, and in Cross River State, where 20,000 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed across eight hectares of farmland in Uyanga community. An additional 170 kilograms of processed cannabis was recovered during a joint raid involving NDLEA operatives and military personnel.
In Niger State, operatives intercepted a suspect transporting 394 components used for improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The agency confirmed that both the suspect and materials would be handed over to the appropriate security authorities for further investigation.
The NDLEA said its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign also continued during the week, with sensitisation programmes held in schools, religious centres, workplaces, and communities across several states.
Commending officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the agency’s balanced approach of enforcement and public enlightenment.
He described the interception of Captagon as a significant breakthrough against drug trafficking networks attempting to re-establish supply channels in Nigeria.
“We are not just seizing pills; we are disrupting the fuel that powers violence in our communities. Our operatives remain on high alert across all frontiers to ensure this illicit trade finds no foothold,” Marwa stated.
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