Drug barons are no longer untouchable, Marwa warns.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a major opioids cartel in Lagos, recovering illicit substances worth over N6.7 billion and arresting six suspects, including the kingpin, Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu.
The agency’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, confirmed that the operation was intelligence driven and targeted a secret warehouse located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri, Lagos. The syndicate was reportedly preparing to distribute over 7.2 million tramadol 225mg pills and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million milliliters) of codeine syrup ahead of the Christmas festive season.
The operation began on Wednesday, November 19, when two members of the drug trafficking organisation (DTO), Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel, were arrested at Apple Junction, Festac, while transporting 300 cartons of opioids in a truck. A follow up raid on Thursday, November 20, led to the arrest of Nwanagu and other syndicate members, including Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
In total, NDLEA seized 7,272,000 tramadol pills valued at N3.96 billion and 53 million milliliters of codeine syrup worth N2.76 billion, bringing the total street value of recovered drugs to N6.72 billion. The seized substances were removed from the residential estate using eleven trucks and transferred to the NDLEA central exhibit complex in Lagos.
Chairman and CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the officers involved, describing the breakthrough as a major blow to cartels preying on Nigerian youths. “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 fueled addiction, crime, and insecurity across our nation, represents a victory for the Nigerian people,” Marwa said.
He further warned that the era of untouchable drug barons is 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,” he added.
The NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to targeting kingpins and financiers of the illicit drug trade, emphasizing that its operations are designed to protect Nigerian communities from the scourge of addiction and drug related crime.
