The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State and intercepted several consignments of illicit substances concealed in containers of local black soap and other items.

The suspect, Mohammed Sani, also known as Gamboli, was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at Anguwan Fadama, Kuta, following intelligence-led operations by NDLEA operatives.

NDLEA had earlier raided the suspect’s residence at Anguwan Makera, Kuta, on Nov. 20, where operatives recovered 471.8 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis. However, the suspect escaped arrest during the operation.

Confirming the development in a statement on Sunday, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, said the suspect was tracked and apprehended three weeks later at one of his drug joints.

Babafemi said intelligence reports linked the suspect to the supply of illicit drugs to bandits terrorising communities in Shiroro Local Government Area.

“Three weeks after escaping arrest at his home in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in the area, 33-year-old Mohammed Sani (alias Gamboli), has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at his hideout,” Babafemi said.

He explained that NDLEA operatives, acting on processed intelligence, traced the suspect to Anguwan Fadama, Kuta, where he was arrested on Dec. 11.

In a related development, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives intercepted 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam concealed in containers of local black soap and designer wear.

According to him, the drugs were found in six different consignments bound for the United States, Canada and Sweden, and were intercepted at two major courier companies in Lagos between Dec. 9 and Dec. 10, 2025.

“No fewer than 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam concealed in containers of local black soap and designer wear, in six consignments going to the U.S., Canada and Sweden, were intercepted and seized by NDLEA operatives,” he said.

Babafemi also disclosed that in Abia State, NDLEA operatives raided a clandestine codeine syrup manufacturing factory at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, in Osisioma Local Government Area, on Dec. 11.

He said a total of 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup, weighing 1,152.2 kilogrammes, were recovered during the operation.

In Enugu State, Babafemi said operatives arrested one Ossai Emeka, 45, along the Onitsha–Enugu Ezike Road with 7.2 kilogrammes of skunk, while Enoje Agada, 40, was arrested along the Enugu Ezike–Ette Road with 94.6 kilogrammes of the same substance.

In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives raided a drug joint known as “Beere the California” at Ido, Ibadan, on Dec. 11, leading to the seizure of 3.4 kilogrammes of skunk, 1.6 kilogrammes of Colorado (a synthetic cannabis), and 400 grammes of methamphetamine.

Babafemi said the owner of the drug joint, identified as Idowu the Killer, escaped, while a suspect, Ajibade Faruk, was arrested at the scene.

He added that another operation at Idi Oro, Elekuro, Ibadan, on Dec. 12, resulted in the arrest of Olusanya Abosede, 35, and the seizure of 238.4 kilogrammes of skunk.

Similarly, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives arrested Bashiru Babalola, 43, and Ugunwale Ranti, 50, at the Gbaji checkpoint, Seme Road, Badagry, Lagos, on Dec. 10, with 50,000 pills of tramadol.

In Ondo State, NDLEA officers raided a compound in Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area, where a 55-year-old woman, Veronica Obi, and her 29-year-old son, Bright Obi, were arrested with 1,187 kilogrammes of skunk and cannabis seeds.

In Edo State, Babafemi said Ohiomah Igbafe, 44, was arrested at Uroe community in Owan East Local Government Area with 461 kilogrammes of skunk and its seeds.

He further disclosed that in Gombe State, a suspect, Muhammed Sani (alias Sha-Mu-Sha), 50, was arrested at the Tunfure area with 40,000 capsules of tramadol.

According to him, two other suspects, Muhammad Abdullahi (alias Sakalala), 52, and Muhammed Hamza (alias Mamman), 32, were arrested at Ashaka Jalingo with 56 kilogrammes of skunk on Dec. 8.

At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA officers, on Dec. 13, intercepted a container carrying 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579 kilogrammes during a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

Commending the officers involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.