The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against drug trafficking with the interception of the illicit stimulant Captagon in Kwara State, alongside large seizures of opioids, cannabis, and suspected explosive materials in coordinated operations across the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the agency said the Kwara interception marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to dismantle international drug networks, coming years after the first recorded seizure of Captagon in Africa at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
Captagon, a powerful amphetamine-type stimulant, is widely associated with organised criminal groups and militant networks in the Middle East. Authorities say it is often used to suppress fear, sustain endurance, and encourage aggressive behaviour, making it a growing concern in both security and criminal contexts.
According to the NDLEA, operatives on patrol along the Bode Saadu axis in Kwara State intercepted a trailer conveying passengers on April 21, 2026. A search of one of the passengers led to the discovery of 10,000 pills of Captagon hidden in 10 packs, alongside quantities of Tapentadol, a controlled opioid.
One suspect, identified as 33-year-old Nasiru Mu’azu, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
In a separate operation along the same route, NDLEA officers uncovered another trailer loaded with opioids concealed in a hidden compartment. A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, was taken into custody.
Elsewhere in Oyo State, operatives intercepted a passenger bus along the Ibadan–Oyo Expressway, where a suspect, Eze Prince Emeka, was found to have ingested cocaine pellets. He was placed under observation and later excreted 45 wraps of cocaine weighing over one kilogram. Investigators say he planned to transport the drugs through multiple transit routes into Europe.
In Edo State, a major shipment of more than 1.1 million pills of opioid drugs was discovered hidden inside a truck heading towards Onitsha, resulting in the arrest of two suspects.
Similar raids across the country led to the seizure of large quantities of cannabis in Lagos, Bauchi, and Ekiti States. In Cross River, NDLEA operatives destroyed an eight-hectare cannabis farm containing about 20,000 kilograms of skunk, while also recovering processed cannabis.
In Niger State, officers intercepted suspected components of improvised explosive devices being transported along the Kontagora–Zuru corridor. The suspect and recovered materials have been handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the Kwara Captagon seizure as a major disruption of transnational drug networks, warning that such substances are often linked to violent groups and insurgent financing.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to sustained nationwide operations, saying Nigeria would not be allowed to become a transit hub for dangerous drugs and illicit materials.
