The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against drug trafficking and related crimes across Nigeria, uncovering illicit drugs concealed inside imported water purifier machines and intercepting military-grade ammunition during coordinated operations in several states.
According to the agency, operatives discovered consignments of hard drugs hidden inside water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos. The seizure included three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, popularly known as Ecstasy. The drugs were uncovered during an inspection at a courier facility, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated methods used by international drug trafficking networks to smuggle narcotics into the country.
In a separate operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway, NDLEA officers intercepted a suspect allegedly transporting 380 rounds of 7.62mm military-grade ammunition. Authorities said the ammunition was being moved toward Katsina State before it was seized. The suspect has since been handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation.
The agency also carried out a major raid in Kaduna State, where operatives arrested a couple and another suspect after recovering 100 jumbo bags of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis. The drugs weighed over 1,200 kilograms and were found at a residence in the Gonin Gora area of the state.
In Niger State, intelligence-led operations led to the discovery of a warehouse stocked with hundreds of kilograms of skunk. A suspect linked to the consignment was later arrested, while further investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the trafficking network.
Meanwhile, on the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial vehicle carrying thousands of tramadol pills, pentazocine ampoules, and bromazepam. The driver was arrested as authorities intensified efforts to curb the circulation of dangerous and controlled substances across the country.
Beyond enforcement actions, the agency said it continues to expand its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitization programs in schools, communities, workplaces, and places of worship. The initiative aims to educate Nigerians, especially young people, about the dangers of drug abuse and addiction.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations and urged commands nationwide to sustain the momentum in dismantling drug trafficking networks. He stressed that reducing the supply of illicit drugs remains crucial to improving public safety and national security.
The latest seizures underscore the growing link between drug trafficking and other security threats, including arms smuggling and organized crime. Security experts have repeatedly warned that criminal groups often use the same routes and networks to move both narcotics and weapons, making coordinated enforcement efforts essential in protecting communities across Nigeria.
