Busted After 7 Years: NDLEA Nabs Elusive Drug Kingpin, Launches Nationwide Offensive
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has captured one of Nigeria’s most wanted drug kingpins, Okpara Paul Chigozie, after seven years on the run. The 60-year-old fugitive was arrested on Sunday, July 13, at his hideout in the Isheri area of Lagos, marking a significant victory in Nigeria’s war on narcotics.
Chigozie’s arrest followed the early morning interception of one of his couriers, Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, stopped Nnamdi’s white Toyota Sienna van at 5:45 a.m. and discovered 7.6kg of cocaine and 900g of methamphetamine hidden in compartments, thanks to a sniffer dog-assisted search.
A follow-up raid at Chigozie’s residence, located at 72 Michael Ojo Street, yielded an additional 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine, bringing the total seizure in the operation to 11.6kg.
In separate operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), NDLEA operatives made additional breakthroughs. On July 16, they arrested Italy-bound Omoregie Nice Uyiosa, who was found with 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol concealed in his luggage. Uyiosa confessed the drugs were intended for resale in Italy.
Just a day later, on July 17, officers intercepted 1.7kg of skunk packed in Golden Morn cereal boxes and destined for Pakistan. The suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna, was arrested at the airport’s export shed while attempting to ship the illicit cargo as part of consolidated freight.
In a raid that exposed a local drug distribution ring, NDLEA operatives stormed Sarah Sam Hotels in the Kosofe area of Lagos on July 19. There, they arrested Obayemi Oyetade, the alleged ringleader, and recovered an assortment of “party drugs” including 1.3kg of chocolate cannabis, 900g of cannabis gummies, and 22.9g of skunk. Three vehicles linked to the operation were also seized.
In Kaduna, a large drug warehouse was discovered in the Narayi High Cost area of Chikun LGA, where NDLEA seized 742.9kg of skunk and Colorado. Suspects Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi, and Emmanuel Madu were arrested in connection with the find.
In Kano State, 36,000 tramadol pills were intercepted along the Danbatta-Kazaure Road, with one Lawan Rabiu arrested. In Gombe, 25,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 were seized from Aliyu Abubakar, while two others were arrested in Yemaltu Deba LGA with 29kg of skunk.
Across the country, NDLEA continued its aggressive clampdown:
In Borno, Audu Modu, 44, was arrested in Maiduguri with 74,360 pills of opioids.
In Bayelsa, Akuna Nelson, 63, was arrested in Yenagoa with 163 litres of ‘skuchies’, a dangerous cocktail of drugs and alcohol.
In Kogi, four men—Ikechukwu Abugu, Sunday Ani, Chukwu Christian, and Emmanuel Olisakwe—were arrested with 2kg of methamphetamine on the Okene-Lokoja highway.
A raid in Aba, Abia State, on the notorious base of Nduka Obi led to the recovery of multiple narcotics and ₦736,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
In Enugu, Chisom Okpalaeke, 30, was caught with 45,000 tramadol pills.
In Taraba, two suspects were caught with 10,000 tramadol capsules and cannabis in Dan Anacha, Gassol LGA.
As part of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, the NDLEA also conducted sensitization and anti-drug lectures in schools across Niger, Adamawa, Enugu, Anambra, and Kano States, reinforcing its dual mission of reducing both drug supply and demand.
The agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised officers for their vigilance and commitment to ridding the country of illicit drugs.
“These operations demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-driven policing and our strategic deployment of technology,” Marwa said. “We are not just chasing traffickers; we are cutting off their networks.”
With the arrest of Chigozie and ongoing operations across Nigeria, the NDLEA continues to send a clear message to drug traffickers.
