July 20, (THEWILL) — Operatives of a special operations unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a wanted 60-year-old drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, ending his seven-year run from the law.
He was caught attempting to ship large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine to the Southeast and other parts of the country.
Okpara, who had been on the NDLEA’s wanted list since 2019, was arrested at his hideout located at 72 Michael Ojo Street, Isheri in the Ojo area of Lagos State on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
His arrest followed the interception of some of his consignments around 5:45 am that same day at Ilasamaja, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
During the early morning operation, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence arrested one of Okpara’s couriers, 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, while he was heading to Onitsha, Anambra State in a white Toyota Sienna vehicle.
A statement released on Sunday by NDLEA Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that agency sniffer dogs were deployed to search the vehicle. A total of 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine were found hidden in various compartments of the space bus.
A follow-up operation at Okpara’s Isheri hideout led to the recovery of an additional 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of methamphetamine.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives working with Aviation Security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria intercepted 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol on Wednesday, July 16.
The drugs were found in the luggage of Omoregie Nice Uyiosa, an Italy-bound passenger at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The suspect, travelling via Turkish Airlines to Italy through Istanbul, claimed he had bought the drugs with the intention of reselling them at a higher price in Europe.
Another bust at the Lagos airport saw NDLEA officers intercept 17 parcels of skunk, a potent cannabis strain, weighing 1.7kg.
The drugs were concealed in packs of Golden Morn cereal and were bound for Pakistan as part of a consolidated cargo. A suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna, who presented the consignment, was arrested.
Elsewhere in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, July 19, raided Sarah Sam Hotels at 115 Ogudu Road in Kosofe following surveillance and credible intelligence.
The hotel, reportedly a distribution point for various party drugs, is a 20-room family-run facility. The prime suspect, Obayemi Oyetade, believed to be the head of the drug network, was arrested.
Officers recovered 1.3kg of chocolate cannabis, 900 grams of gummies, 22.9 grams of skunk, and three vehicles.
On the same day in Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects — Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi, and Emmanuel Madu — during a raid at Narayi High Cost area of Chikun Local Government Area.
Seized from them were 742.866 kilograms of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain. In Kano State, Lawan Rabiu was caught along the Danbatta-Kazaure Road with 36,000 pills of tramadol on Wednesday, July 16.
At Gombe Roundabout on Friday, July 18, officers recovered 25,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 from a suspect, Aliyu Abubakar.
That same day, Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were arrested at Kwadom, Yemaltu Deba LGA, with 49 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 29kg.
In Borno State, officers on patrol along Baga Road in Maiduguri intercepted 74,360 pills of opioids in a Mercedes Benz C180 car, marked GUB 409 AA.
A 44-year-old suspect, Audu Modu, was arrested in connection with the drugs. In Bayelsa State, a 63-year-old grandmother, Akuna Nelson, was arrested on Thursday, July 17, at Osiri area of Yenagoa for possessing 163 litres of skuchies.
Four suspects — Ikechukwu Abugu, 42; Sunday Ani, 18; Chukwu Christian, 46; and Emmanuel Olisakwe, 55 — were intercepted on Thursday, July 17, along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State with 2kg of methamphetamine during a stop-and-search operation. They were travelling from Onitsha to Minna.
In Abia State, NDLEA officers on Monday, July 14, raided the residence of notorious drug dealer Nduka Obi at 4 Niger Street, Ugwa Road, Aba. Seized from the location were various quantities of tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and N736,000 in cash.
On Wednesday, July 16, NDLEA operatives intercepted 45,000 pills of tramadol from 30-year-old suspect Chisom Okpalaeke along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway in Enugu State.
That same day in Taraba State, Ngwokwoka Thomas and Mohammed Audu, both 44, were arrested in Dan Anacha, Gassol LGA, with 10,000 tramadol capsules and one gram of cannabis.
Meanwhile, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding sensitization lectures for students and staff of Government Day Secondary School in Badeggi, Niger State; Dah Model Academy in Ngurore, Adamawa; Icon Academy in Nsukka, Enugu; Government Technical College in Nkpor, Anambra; and Madrisatul Tahfizul Qur’an Wa Ulumud Deen in Jaba Fagge, Kano State.
Commending the efforts of the agency’s commands across the country, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the MMIA, SOU, Lagos, Kaduna, Osun, Bayelsa, Gombe, Borno, Abia, Kogi, Enugu, and Taraba Commands for their recent arrests and seizures.
He lauded their balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and demand reduction initiatives.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
