NDLEA Intercepts Captagon in Kwara, Seizes Cocaine, Opioids and IED Materials Across States

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted 10,000 pills of the amphetamine drug Captagon in Kwara State and recovered multiple illicit substances in coordinated operations across the country.

The interception occurred on April 21, 2026, along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara, where officers stopped a passenger vehicle and arrested 33-year-old Nasiru Mu’azu. A search led to the recovery of 10 packs of Captagon and nine packets of Tapentadol. In a related operation on April 24, officers at the same location intercepted a trailer carrying 155,900 capsules of tramadol, 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection, 3,000 tablets of co-codamol and 9,000 tablets of bromazepam concealed in a hidden compartment. A suspect, Aminu Isah, 24, was arrested.

In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives on April 21 intercepted a commercial bus along the Ibadan/Oyo expressway. A passenger, Eze Prince Emeka, 33, was found to have ingested illicit drugs. He later excreted 45 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms. Investigations indicated the suspect intended to transport the drugs through trans-Saharan routes to Europe.

In Edo State, officers intercepted a truck on April 25 along the Benin/Lagos expressway carrying 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids. Two suspects, Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44, were arrested. In Lagos, another suspect, Rasheed Ibuowo, 40, was arrested with 810 kilograms of cannabis. In Bauchi State, Muktar Bello, 35, was apprehended with 154.5 kilograms of skunk.

In Ekiti State, 466.8 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from a suspect’s residence, while in Cross River, NDLEA operatives, supported by security personnel, destroyed 20,000 kilograms ofcannabis on farmland and recovered an additional 170 kilograms of processed substance.

In Niger State, officers intercepted 394 improvised explosive device (IED) components from a suspect, Mohammed Aliyu, 26, along the Kontagora/Zuru road. The suspect and exhibits are to be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the Captagon seizure was a significant disruption of attempts to reintroduce the drug into Nigeria. He noted that the substance, often linked to insurgent groups, poses a threat to public safety.

Marwa also commended NDLEA commands involved in the operations and urged sustained efforts in drug supply reduction and public sensitisation under the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse campaign.