NDLEA Intercepts Terror Drug Captagon in Kwara, Busts Cross-Border Drug Networks Nationwide

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted 10,000 pills of the terror-linked drug Captagon in Kwara State, alongside a series of coordinated nationwide operations that led to major drug seizures, arrests, and the destruction of large cannabis plantations.

The latest Kwara interception, made on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, occurred along the Bode Saadu road during a routine patrol. NDLEA operatives stopped a trailer conveying passengers and discovered the consignment concealed with one of the occupants, 33-year-old Nasiru Mu’azu. A search led to the recovery of 10 packs containing 10,000 pills of Captagon and nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg.

Captagon, a highly addictive amphetamine pill with known links to militant networks in parts of the Middle East, is widely regarded by security agencies as a drug capable of fuelling violence and reckless behaviour.

In a related operation at the same patrol point on Friday, April 24, officers intercepted another trailer marked RMY-70XA with a hidden compartment.

A search uncovered 155,900 capsules of tramadol, 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection, 3,000 tablets of Co-Codamol, and 9,000 tablets of Bromazepam. A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, was arrested.

In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, April 21, intercepted a commercial bus along the Ibadan–Oyo expressway. A passenger, Eze Prince Emeka, 33, who claimed to be a businessman, was subjected to a body scan that confirmed drug ingestion. He was later placed under observation and excreted 45 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.043kg.

According to the agency, the suspect allegedly planned to transit through Sokoto and move the drugs across the Sahara route into North Africa en route to Europe.

In Edo State, operatives intercepted a truck along the Benin–Lagos expressway on Saturday, April 25, carrying 1,196,000 pills of opioids. Two suspects, Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

In Lagos, another suspect, Rasheed Ibuowo, 40, was arrested at Mile 2 axis with 810kg of cannabis, while in Bauchi, Muktar Bello, 35, was nabbed with 154.5kg of skunk.

In Ekiti State, NDLEA recovered 466.8kg of skunk from a suspect’s residence in Isinbode-Ekiti, while in Cross River, operatives destroyed 20,000kg of cannabis on an eight-hectare farm in Uyanga community, Akamkpa LGA. Another 170kg of processed cannabis was also recovered during the raid.

In Niger State, 394 pieces of improvised explosive device (IED) components were intercepted along the Kontagora–Zuru road from a suspect, Mohammed Aliyu, 26, who was transporting them in a Toyota vehicle. The materials are to be handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the operations, describing the Kwara Captagon interception as a significant blow to trafficking networks attempting to re-establish the drug’s presence in Nigeria.

“We are not just seizing pills; we are disrupting the fuel that powers violence in our communities,” Marwa said. “Our operatives remain on high alert across all fronts to ensure this illicit trade finds no foothold in Nigeria.”

He also praised the combined efforts of NDLEA commands nationwide, noting that enforcement actions are being matched with sustained public enlightenment campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse initiative.