Drug baron, five others nabbed as NDLEA uncovers N6.7bn stash

No fewer than six suspected members of a drug cartel have been arrested after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency uncovered N6.7bn worth of illicit drugs inside a warehouse in the Isolo area of Lagos State.

The NDLEA stated that the operation led to the arrest of a drug baron, Onyekachi Nwanagu, alongside five members of his gang, with illicit substances valued at over N6.7bn recovered from their secret warehouse in a residential estate.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi.

The statement read in part, “Following credible intelligence that the drug trafficking organisation was about to distribute over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million ml) of codeine syrup warehoused in a residential compound located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri area of Isolo, Lagos State, ahead of the Christmas festive season, officers of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA led a well-coordinated operation between Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th November 2025 to round up members of the syndicate and dismantle their criminal network.”

Babafemi added that two members of the cartel, Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, were first trailed and arrested at Apple Junction, FESTAC, on November 19 while transporting 300 cartons of opioids in a truck.

A follow-up raid on the warehouse the next day, the statement added, led to the arrest of Nwanagu and other members of his syndicate: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.

“In all, a total of 7,272,000 pills of 225 mg tramadol worth N3.96bn and 53 million ml of codeine syrup valued at over N2.76bn, bringing the combined value of the seized drugs to N6,722,550,000 in street value, were recovered and moved out of the estate in 11 trucks to the NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos,” the statement added.

Commending the commanders and operatives involved in the raid, Babafemi said the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) hailed the officers’ professionalism, describing the interception as a major setback for drug cartels “preying on Nigeria’s youth.”

Marwa said, “This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement. The seizure of this colossal volume of illicit drugs, which could have fuelled addiction, crime, and insecurity across our nation, represents a victory for the Nigerian people and a confirmation of our unwavering commitment to the mandate given to us by President Bola Tinubu.”

Emphasising the agency’s focus on dismantling drug kingpins and financiers, he added, “The days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over.

“The arrest of this drug baron and his criminal cohorts, following an intensive intelligence operation, serves as a stark reminder that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with every merchant of death, no matter how high or deeply concealed they think they are.”

A similar NDLEA operation on November 15 led to the arrest of another wanted “drug baron”, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance.