NDLEA Intercepts 1,989 Rounds of Ammunition Hidden in Garri, Seizes UK-Bound Drugs

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 1,989 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed in bags of garri along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, as the agency intensified nationwide operations against drug trafficking and related crimes.

The ammunition, identified as RLA 7.62mm rounds, was discovered during a patrol operation in Kaduna State on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

The Director, media and advocacy-NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said a 35-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Hassan, was arrested while conveying the ammunition hidden inside fresh cassava granules locally known as garri.

According to the agency, the suspect and the recovered ammunition have been transferred to another security agency for further investigation.

In a related development, NDLEA operatives intercepted consignments of cocaine and opioids concealed in carton walls and destined for the United Kingdom and Australia.

The seizures were made at a courier company in Lagos during examination of export shipments on Friday, May 15. The agency recovered 170 grams of cocaine hidden in the walls of a carton containing clothes bound for Australia.

Another shipment heading to the United Kingdom contained 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection concealed in a carton.

In Delta State, NDLEA operatives raided Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area where they destroyed 27,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 11 hectares of farmland and recovered an additional 22.9 kilograms of the substance.

A suspect, 52-year-old Ifeanyichukwu Peter, was arrested in a follow-up operation at Obiaruku.Another raid at Orogun village in Ughelli North Local Government Area led to the destruction of 37,500 kilograms of skunk on 15 hectares of farmland, while 55.4 kilograms were recovered and a suspect, Godwin Vincent Osadera, 30, arrested.

The agency said the combined operations in Delta State led to the destruction of 65,000 kilograms of skunk.

In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested a 29-year-old businessman, Ogadi Peter, alleged to be producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties and social gatherings in Abuja.

The suspect was arrested at his residence in the Life Camp area, where officers recovered 800 grams of skunk and 2.7 kilograms of drug-laced cookies.

In Ogun State, operatives arrested a suspect, Aliyu Sani, with 181 kilograms of skunk in Ogere, while another suspect, Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa, 27, was apprehended in Taraba State with 105,850pills of opioids including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5.

Two suspects, Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, were also arrested in Oyo State over the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies.

NDLEA further disclosed that 1,388.4 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on two farms during a raid on Ago forest in Edo State.

Meanwhile, the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign continued across schools in Oyo, Niger, Lagos, Katsina, Ekiti and Kano states.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations for sustaining efforts aimed at reducing drug supply and abuse across the country.