The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its war against drug trafficking with a series of major operations across Nigeria, including the seizure of illicit substances valued at over ₦1 billion from a hotel in Lagos.
In a raid carried out between April 25 and 26, 2025, NDLEA operatives stormed an 80-room hotel, The Hook Hotel (also known as Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge) located in Victoria Island, Lagos, recovering 589 bags of Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 417.3 kilograms.
The seized drugs are estimated to have a street value of ₦1,042,500,000.
Three suspects—Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh—were arrested, while two others, Noble Philip and Kenneth, remain at large. Several vehicles, electronic appliances, and other items suspected to be proceeds of illicit drug trade were also confiscated from the premises.
Meanwhile, in Jigawa State, NDLEA officers intercepted a Toyota Sienna transporting large quantities of opioids along the Kano-Ringim road in Gumel town. Two suspects were arrested with 200,000 pills of tramadol and 217,500 capsules of pregabalin. A follow-up operation in Kano led to the arrest of a major supplier, Jamilu Muhammad, and the recovery of an additional 1.58 million tramadol pills, bringing the total seizure to over 2 million pills.
Other highlights from NDLEA’s nationwide crackdown include:
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Interception of 46 wraps of cocaine hidden in body cream bound for the Middle East.
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Seizure of 1.8 kg of pentazocine injection and 60 grams of bromazepam tablets destined for Canada.
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Arrest of three Ghanaian women at Seme Border, Badagry, attempting to smuggle 4.8 kg of Ghana Loud cannabis into Nigeria.
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Arrest of a 60-year-old woman, Safiya Shamsu, and another suspect, Muntari Labaran, with skunk and codeine syrup respectively in Kano State.
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Destruction of 3,814.9 kg of skunk after raids on two farms in Ugbodu, Edo State, with three suspects arrested.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), commended the agency’s officers for their vigilance and urged Nigerians to support the fight against drug trafficking to safeguard the nation’s future.
