NDLEA Arrests Chinese Businessman, 80-Year-Old Woman, and Others in Major Drug Bust Across 12 States
story written by joseph okafor – July 27, 2025)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a sweeping crackdown on drug trafficking, arresting a Chinese businessman, an 80-year-old grandmother, and several other suspects across 12 states in Nigeria between July 21 and July 26, 2025.
In a statement released Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA confirmed the seizure of large volumes of synthetic cannabis, opioids, and other banned substances during its latest interdiction operations.
Chinese National Caught with Canadian Loud at Lagos Airport
One of the high-profile arrests was that of Liang Tak You, a Chinese businessman, who was apprehended on Friday, July 25, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Acting on intelligence, NDLEA officers intercepted Liang after his arrival from Bangkok via Dubai aboard an Emirates flight. He was found with two suitcases containing 50 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 26.1 kilograms.
80-Year-Old Woman Caught with Cannabis in Cross River
In a separate operation in Calabar, Cross River State, operatives arrested 80-year-old Grace Ekpeme on Saturday, July 26. The elderly suspect was found in possession of over 3 kilograms of cannabis at her residence in Edet-Nsa, Calabar South.
Drugs Hidden in Moimoi Sachets Intercepted in Lagos
On July 23, NDLEA intercepted a suspect, Chidi Agbafo, on the Epe-Ajah Expressway in Lagos. He was caught with 21.7 kilograms of Colorado cannabis—some of it concealed in moimoi sachets—and 3.8 litres of codeine syrup. Agbafo reportedly planned to transport the drugs to Warri and Oghara in Delta State.
Canadian Cannabis Smuggled in Food Tins at Lagos Port
At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, uncovered 101 kilograms of Canadian Loud hidden in 202 tins labeled as “Bean Salad Mix.” The drugs were packed inside two Toyota Sienna vehicles in a container that had arrived from Canada.
More Arrests Across Nigeria in Weeklong Operation
- Abuja-Kaduna Highway: Usman Musa was arrested on July 23 with 71,000 pills of tramadol, diazepam, and Exol-5.
- Maiduguri, Borno State: Binta Usman was caught with 30.1 kilograms of cannabis. Her accomplice, Bala Abdullahi, was arrested two days later.
- Ondo State: Three brothers—Nanna, Chizom, and Maxwell Ozirinye—were arrested after NDLEA raided a cannabis farm in Idoani forest, destroying 2,500 kilograms of cannabis and recovering 121.4 kilograms of processed drugs.
- Edo State: Officers raided the Asakpa community in Benin City, arresting Bright Sunday Okon and seizing various strains of cannabis, including Loud, Arizona, skunk, and methamphetamine.
Nationwide Drug Seizures Continue
Additional seizures reported include:
- 105.4kg of skunk from an abandoned vehicle in Keffi, Nasarawa State
- 6,400 tramadol pills from Bashir Abdullahi in Minna, Niger State
- 113kg of cannabis at Jamiu Omolaja’s base in Ifo, Ogun State
- 10,910 tramadol capsules from Adamu Adamu along the Gombe-Bajoga road
- A consignment of skunk intercepted in Kogi, leading to the arrest of Kindness Bala, 27, in Abuja
- 23,600 tramadol pills, 300 pentazocine ampoules, and 700g of cannabis seized from a truck in Ayingba, Kogi State
NDLEA Chairman Commends Nationwide Effort
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the agency’s state commands in Lagos, Cross River, Ondo, Edo, Borno, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Gombe, Kaduna, and Kogi for their dedication. He also lauded officers nationwide for balancing enforcement with efforts to reduce drug demand.
Report by SpringnewsNG Media Limited, July 27, 2025.
