Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and raided three illicit drug warehouses in Lagos, recovering opioids valued at approximately N16.9 billion in a major crackdown on drug trafficking networks.
The intelligence-driven operation, carried out on April 17, 2026, targeted locations within the Okota axis of the state, including the Park View Estate in Ago Palace.
According to the agency, the warehouses—situated on Olukayode Awofisayo Street and Charles Ndumetu Street—contained a massive cache of illegal substances. Recovered items include 2,360,000 pills of high-strength tramadol (225mg) and 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup, all stored in thousands of cartons.
The NDLEA said the seized drugs, estimated at nearly 4.3 million units, have a street value of N16.9 billion.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Buba Marwa, described the operation as a significant blow to organised drug syndicates operating in the country.
He noted that the scale of the seizure highlights both the growing sophistication of trafficking networks and the agency’s enhanced intelligence capabilities.
“The scale of this recovery is a testament to the fact that our officers are staying several steps ahead of these merchants of death,” Marwa said, adding that the concealment of such volumes within residential estates reflects the desperation of drug cartels.
He commended the operatives involved for their professionalism and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug networks nationwide.
“There is no safe haven for drug traffickers in Nigeria. Whether hidden in high-end estates or remote warehouses, we will track them down and bring them to justice,” he warned.
The NDLEA said the operation represents a major milestone in its ongoing efforts to curb drug abuse and disrupt the supply chains of illicit substances across the country.
