The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced the dismantling of two significant cross-border drug trafficking syndicates, leading to the arrest of six suspected drug kingpins and the seizure of cocaine and opioids valued in the billions of naira. The suspects, hailing from Adamawa, Anambra, and Lagos States in Nigeria, as well as Cameroon, had been under surveillance for months as major suppliers to terrorist groups in Nigeria and Cameroon.
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that the syndicates were closely monitored due to intelligence linking them to drug supplies for terrorism-related activities. The suspects arrested include Ibrahim Bawuro, Najib Ibrahim, Ibrahim Umar, Nelson Anayo, Ezeh Martin, and Adejumo Ishola.
The drugs, including high quantities of tramadol, were allegedly sourced by Bawuro and Najib from Nelson Udechukwu Anayo, a known dealer in Onitsha. They were then concealed in vehicles and transported to Yola and Cameroon. Babafemi revealed that the operation peaked on October 7, when Bawuro and Najib, who had purchased a new consignment, were tracked and apprehended in Taraba State. In their abandoned vehicle on the Jalingo-Yola expressway, authorities discovered 276,500 tramadol pills.
The NDLEA’s successful operation underscores its commitment to tackling drug trafficking networks fueling insecurity in the region, marking a significant step towards disrupting terrorist supply chains and enhancing national safety.
