20/07/2025
NDLEA Captures Notorious Drug Kingpin After 7 Years, Seizes Large Drug Hauls Nationwide
By Halima Lukman
After seven years of evading capture, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Okpara Paul Chigozie, a 60-year-old wanted drug kingpin, following a raid at his hideout in Lagos.
The arrest came shortly after his couriers were intercepted transporting 7.6 kilograms of co***ne and 900 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a vehicle destined for Onitsha, Anambra State. Additional drugs including co***ne and methamphetamine were recovered from Okparaโs residence in Isheri, marking a significant breakthrough in the agencyโs fight against drug trafficking in Nigeria.
In separate operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and various locations across the country, NDLEA also seized large quantities of controlled substances.
On July 16, airport officials intercepted 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from a passenger bound for Italy, while on July 17, 1.7 kilograms of cannabis concealed in cereal packs were seized at the Lagos export shed. These coordinated efforts highlight the agencyโs commitment to disrupting drug smuggling routes both domestically and internationally.
Further raids exposed drug distribution networks within urban centers, such as the shutdown of a party drug distribution hub at Sarah Sam Hotels in Lagos. Several suspects were arrested and various narcotics including cannabis variants and gummies were confiscated.
Additionally, operations in Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Borno, Bayelsa, Kogi, Abia, Enugu, and Taraba states led to the arrest of multiple suspects and the seizure of kilograms of cannabis, synthetic drugs, and thousands of tramadol pills.
These multi state crackdowns underline NDLEAโs intensified intelligence-led approach to combating drug trafficking and abuse nationwide.
By targeting key players and intercepting large consignments of narcotics, the agency aims to dismantle the networks fueling drug-related crimes, ensuring safer communities across Nigeria.