By Ibrahim Salaudeen, Lagos
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have raided three illicit drug warehouses concealed within a residential estate in the Okota area of Lagos, where Two Million Three Hundred and Sixty Thousand (2,360,000) pills of high-potency tramadol (225mg) and One Million Nine Hundred and Nine Thousand Four Hundred (1,909,400) bottles of codeine syrup were recovered.
The agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this on Wednesday morning through a statement, said the seizures have a combined street value of Sixteen Billion, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦16,927,200,000.00).
Babafemi said that intelligence-led coordinated operations were conducted on Friday, 17 April 2026, at 98 Olukayode Awofisayo Street, Park View Estate, Ago Palace, Okota, where a major warehouse was uncovered, as well as at two other locations: 5 Charles Ndumetu Street, Park View Estate, Ago Palace, Okota, Lagos State.
He listed items recovered from the three warehouses as 19,094 cartons containing 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup, alongside 2,360,000 pills of high-potency tramadol (225mg) stored in an additional 34 cartons.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the successful operations have dealt a significant blow to the pharmaceutical drug black market, leading to the dismantling of a major drug syndicate in the country.
Marwa expressed profound pride in the operatives involved, describing the seizure as a monumental victory in the ongoing fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
According to him, “The scale of this recovery—nearly 4.3 million units of lethal substances—is a testament to the fact that our officers are staying several steps ahead of these merchants of death.
The discovery of such volumes hidden within residential estates like Park View and busy hubs like Okota underscores the desperation of these cartels, while also highlighting the exceptional intelligence capabilities of our team.”
The NDLEA boss reiterated that there is no safe haven for drug traffickers in Nigeria, adding that whether they conceal their illicit goods in elite mansions or suburban warehouses, the Agency’s reach is extensive and its resolve unwavering.
“Let this be a clear signal to those who think they can profit from the destruction of our children’s futures: we will find you, dismantle your networks, and bring the full weight of the law upon you,” he warned.
