In one of its biggest operations of the year, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has taken down a major opioid syndicate in Lagos, storming a covert warehouse stacked with drugs worth N6.7 billion and arresting a suspected kingpin, Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu, along with five members of his network.
The operation, driven by weeks of intelligence gathering, targeted a drug trafficking organisation that was allegedly preparing to flood the market with millions of opioid pills ahead of the festive season. The warehouse—hidden inside a quiet residential estate at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri-Isolo—was found to contain staggering quantities of controlled substances.
Beginning on Wednesday, 19 November, NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit intercepted two members of the syndicate—Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel—at Apple Junction, Festac, as they attempted to move 300 cartons of opioids in a truck. Their arrest set off a chain of follow-up actions.
By Thursday, operatives had traced the network to the Bucknor warehouse, where they arrested the cartel boss, Nwanagu, and three others: Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.
What investigators found inside the compound stunned even seasoned officers:
7,272,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg valued at N3.96 billion, and 53 million ml of codeine syrup worth N2.76 billion.
The contraband—packed in massive stacks of cartons and bottles—was so voluminous it had to be evacuated using 11 trucks to the NDLEA central exhibit facility.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), hailed the operation as a decisive strike against drug networks profiting off addiction and insecurity.
“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement,” Marwa said. “This colossal volume of illicit drugs could have fueled addiction, crime, and instability across our nation. Its seizure is a victory for Nigerians and proof of our unwavering commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He said the agency’s focus remains fixed on crippling the leadership of drug cartels—not just arresting foot soldiers.
“The days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over,” he warned. “This arrest shows that the long arm of the law will find every merchant of death, no matter how well hidden.”
The NDLEA says investigations are ongoing and more arrests are expected as it follows the money and network links behind the bust.