Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled an opioid cartel, seizing illicit substances valued at over ₦6.7 billion from a hidden warehouse in a residential estate in Lagos State.
According to NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the operation led to the arrest of suspected cartel leader Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu and five members of his gang. The seizure followed intelligence that the syndicate was distributing over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million mls) of codeine syrup, stored at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, Lagos.
The operation, conducted between November 19–20, 2025, began with the arrest of two gang members, Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, in Festac while transporting 300 cartons of opioids. A follow-up raid on the warehouse led to the arrest of Nwanagu and other members, including Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
In total, 7,272,000 tramadol pills worth ₦3.96 billion and 53 million mls of codeine syrup valued at over ₦2.76 billion were confiscated. The drugs were transported to NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos using eleven trucks.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (rtd) commended the Special Operations and Strike Force units for their professionalism, describing the bust as a significant blow to cartels targeting Nigerian youth.
Marwa emphasized that the agency remains focused on arresting kingpins and financiers of the drug trade. “The days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over,” he stated, warning that the law will eventually catch up with all traffickers, regardless of their influence or efforts to conceal their operations.
