NDLEA Seizes Captagon in Kwara, Intercepts Major Drug Hauls Nationwide; Suspect Excretes 45 Cocaine Pellets
By Kevin Stella Kita
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignment of the dangerous stimulant, Captagon, in Kwara State, as part of a series of nationwide operations that also led to multiple arrests and major drug seizures across several states.
Barely five years after recording the first seizure of Captagon in Africa at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives again uncovered the amphetamine-based substance during a patrol along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The officers intercepted a passenger vehicle, and a search of a 33-year-old suspect, Nasiru Mu’azu, led to the recovery of 10 packs containing 10,000 Captagon pills, along with nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg.
Captagon, a highly addictive stimulant widely abused in parts of the Middle East, is known for inducing prolonged wakefulness, heightened aggression, and impaired judgment. Its production and trafficking have been linked to organized criminal networks and insurgent groups, where it is used both as a source of funding and as a performance-enhancing drug for combatants.
In a separate operation at the same patrol point on April 24, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer (RMY-70XA) concealing a large cache of pharmaceuticals, including 155,900 tramadol capsules, 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection, 3,000 tablets of co-codamol, and 9,000 tablets of bromazepam hidden in a fabricated compartment. A suspect, Aminu Isah, 24, was arrested.
Meanwhile, in Oyo State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial bus along the Ibadan/Oyo Expressway. A passenger, Eze Prince Emeka, 33, tested positive for ingesting illicit drugs. Under observation, he excreted 45 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms. Investigations revealed he intended to transport the drugs through trans-Saharan routes to Europe, using Algeria as a transit point.
Further seizures were recorded across the country. In Edo State, officers intercepted a truck along the Benin/Lagos Expressway carrying 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids. Two suspects, Osagie Igbinibo (43) and Omijie Malik (44), were arrested.
In Lagos, a suspect, Rasheed Ibuowo (40), was apprehended with 810 kilograms of Arizona cannabis at Mile 2, while in Bauchi State, another suspect, Muktar Bello (35), was arrested with 154.5 kilograms of skunk.
In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives recovered 466.8 kilograms of skunk from a residence in Isinbode-Ekiti, while in Cross River State, officers, supported by the military, destroyed 20,000 kilograms of cannabis on farmland in Uyanga community and recovered an additional 170 kilograms of processed substance.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 394 components used for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from a suspect, Mohammed Aliyu (26), along the Kontagora/Zuru Road. The suspect and items will be transferred to appropriate security agencies for further investigation.
The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, communities, and institutions nationwide.
Commending the efforts of officers across affected states, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the Captagon seizure as a significant disruption of attempts to re-establish trafficking routes. He warned that the agency remains vigilant against efforts to introduce the drug into Nigeria.
“We are not just seizing pills; we are disrupting the fuel that powers violence in our communities. Our operatives remain on high alert across all frontiers to ensure this illicit trade finds no foothold,” Marwa stated.
Lagos Hosts Grand Banquet for IGP Disu, Police Chief Pledges Professional Reforms
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, was on Saturday, April 25, 2026, honoured at a colourful state banquet held at the Lagos State House, Marina, following his appointment as the 23rd Indigenous and 33rd Inspector-General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The event, hosted by the Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, drew dignitaries, senior government officials, security stakeholders, and members of the public to celebrate the police chief’s distinguished career marked by discipline, service, and excellence.
In his remarks, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the IGP as a proud product of Lagos, shaped by its communities and institutions, and driven by an enduring commitment to public service. He noted that the honour was a recognition of Disu’s leadership track record, particularly his impactful tenure as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in the state.
Responding, the Inspector-General expressed appreciation to the government and people of Lagos for what he described as a heartfelt homecoming. Reflecting on his years of service in the state, he reaffirmed his resolve to restore public trust, uphold professionalism, and deepen community-based policing across the country.
He also pledged to strengthen collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Government, and key security partners, including the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, to sustain safety and stability.
The IGP urged Nigerians to support law enforcement agencies, stressing that effective security requires collective responsibility involving government, the private sector, civil society, and citizens.
The ceremony underscored the enduring ties between Lagos State and the Inspector-General, anchored on shared values of service, leadership, and national development.
