NDLEA recovers 1,989 military-grade bullets hidden in garri along Abuja-Kaduna Highway

Stanley Ihedigbo

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 1,989 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed inside bags of fresh cassava granules popularly known as garri along the Abuja-Kaduna highway, leading to the arrest of a 35-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Hassan.

According to the Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the bullets, identified as RLA 7.62mm rounds, were discovered during a patrol operation in Kaduna State, after which the suspect and recovered ammunition were handed over to another security agency for further investigation.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, NDLEA operatives arrested a 29-year-old businessman, Ogadi Peter, who allegedly specialized in producing drug-laced cakes and cookies for parties and social gatherings.

Acting on credible intelligence, officers tracked the suspect to his residence in the Life Camp area of Abuja on Monday, May 11, where he was arrested. Recovered from him were 800 grams of skunk and 2.70 kilograms of drug-infused cookies.

Elsewhere in Ogun State, operatives raided the Ogere area on Wednesday, May 13, recovering 181 kilograms of skunk from a suspect identified as Aliyu Sani.

In Taraba State, another suspect, 27-year-old Sufiyanu Mohammed Misa, was arrested along the Zaki-Biam Road in Wukari Local Government Area with 105,850 pills of opioids, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.

NDLEA operatives in Oyo State also arrested two suspects, Adeleke Olamide Aliyah, 20, and Aloba Abdulazeez, 25, in connection with the seizure of 99 litres of skuchies at Challenge II area of Saki town on Thursday, May 14.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, officers destroyed 1,388.4175 kilograms of skunk during raids on two cannabis farms in Ago Forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, on Friday, May 15.
In Kano State, operatives recovered 1.2 kilograms of tramaking 225mg pills concealed inside a 25-litre jerry can filled with palm oil at Kofar Ruwa Motor Park following intelligence reports.

Another suspect, Aminu Isa, 35, was also arrested at Sabuwar Sharada area with 30.5 kilograms of skunk.

Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued across several states through sensitization programmes in schools and institutions.

Some of the institutions visited during the week include The Apostolic Church Model College, Ijokodo, Ibadan, in Oyo State; School of Health Technology, Lambata in Niger State; Yewa Junior High School, Agege in Lagos State; Government Secondary School, Yardaje in Katsina State; Igogo Commercial High School in Ekiti State; and Government Girls Secondary School, Magwan in Kano State.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers and men of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation as well as commands in Delta, Kaduna, Oyo, Taraba, Kano, Abuja and Edo States for the successful operations.

He also praised NDLEA personnel nationwide for maintaining a balance between reducing the supply of illicit drugs and intensifying efforts aimed at reducing drug demand through public sensitization and advocacy campaigns.

The agency intercepted cocaine and opioid consignments concealed in carton walls and destined for the United Kingdom and Australia, alongside the destruction of 65,000 kilograms of skunk in Delta forests and several high-profile arrests across the country.

The international drug consignments were intercepted during routine examination of export shipments at a courier company in Lagos on Friday, May 15, 2026.

Also, operatives uncovered 170 grams of cocaine carefully wrapped in cellophane parcels and hidden within the walls of a carton containing clothes meant for Australia.

In another shipment heading to the United Kingdom, officers discovered a variety of opioids concealed in a carton. The recovered substances included 200 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 1,100 capsules of tramadol, and 100 ampoules of promethazine injection.

The agency also recorded major breakthroughs in Delta State where operatives, supported by soldiers, carried out extensive raids on cannabis farms in different communities.

At Ejeonu village in Ukwuani Local Government Area, NDLEA officers on Sunday, May 10, destroyed 27,500 kilograms of skunk spread across 11 hectares of farmland and recovered an additional 22.9 kilograms of the substance. A follow-up operation in Obiaruku led to the arrest of a 52-year-old suspect identified as Ifeanyichukwu Peter.

Similarly, a raid conducted at Orogun village in Ughelli North Local Government Area on Tuesday, May 12, resulted in the destruction of 37,500 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 15 hectares of farmland. Operatives also recovered 55.4 kilograms of the psychoactive substance and arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Godwin Vincent Osadera.

The combined operations brought the total quantity of skunk destroyed in Delta State to 65,000 kilograms.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 42-year-old suspect, Husaini Suleiman, after recovering 361 kilograms of skunk during a raid at Dan Magaji area of Zaria on Wednesday, May 13.