Barely five years after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency recorded the first seizure of the notorious terror-linked drug, Captagon, in Africa at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, operatives of the Agency have again intercepted a fresh consignment of the highly addictive substance in Kwara State, raising fresh concerns over attempts by international drug syndicates to re-establish distribution channels within the country.
Captagon, a small but potent amphetamine pill widely abused across the Middle East, is known for its ability to induce intense euphoria, suppress fatigue, and keep users awake for extended periods, often for days. Security experts have long warned that the drug enhances aggression and lowers inhibitions, making users prone to reckless and violent behaviour that endangers not only themselves but also those around them.
The drug has also been linked to global ΡΠ΅ΡΡΠΎΡ networks, with its production and distribution reportedly controlled by militias and organised criminal groups associated with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, serving as both a funding mechanism for insurgent operations and a stimulant for fighters on the battlefield.
The latest interception occurred on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, when NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Bode Saadu road in Kwara State stopped a trailer conveying passengers. A search conducted on one of the passengers, identified as 33-year-old Nasiru Muβazu, led to the recovery of 10 packs of Captagon containing a total of 10,000 pills, along with nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg.
The seizure represents one of the most significant interceptions of the substance in recent years and is seen by authorities as an indication of renewed trafficking attempts targeting Nigeria as a transit or destination point.
In a separate operation at the same Bode Saadu patrol point, NDLEA officers on Friday, April 24, intercepted a trailer marked RMY-70XA. A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered 155,900 capsules of tramadol, 6,000 ampules of tramadol injection, 3,000 tablets of co-codamol, and 9,000 tablets of bromazepam. The drugs were concealed in a specially constructed false compartment beneath the trailer, suggesting a high level of sophistication in the smuggling attempt.
A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, was arrested in connection with the seizure and is currently in custody as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, in Oyo State, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, April 21, intercepted a commercial bus with registration number MNA 963 ZY at Akinyele along the Ibadan-Oyo expressway while en route to Sokoto. One of the passengers, 33-year-old Eze Prince Emeka, was taken aside for a body scan, which confirmed that he had ingested illicit substances.
The suspect, who claimed to be a businessman based in Sokoto, was placed under close excretion observation, during which he expelled a total of 45 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms in three separate excretions.
Investigations revealed that his decision to travel by road was a deliberate attempt to evade airport detection by NDLEA officials. Further findings indicated that upon arrival in Sokoto, he was to excrete the pellets, rest for a few days, and then re-ingest the substances before continuing the journey through trans-Saharan routes, with Algeria as a transit point and a possible final destination in Europe.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Benin-Lagos expressway on Saturday, April 25, intercepted a truck marked NLC 146 FC carrying a staggering 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids concealed within the vehicle. Two suspects, Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44, were arrested in connection with the consignment, which was reportedly heading to Onitsha in Anambra State.
In Lagos, a suspect identified as Rasheed Ibuowo, 40, was apprehended at the Mile 2 expressway on Saturday, April 25, while transporting 810 kilograms of a cannabis strain known as Arizona. Similarly, in Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, April 22, arrested 35-year-old Muktar Bello at Misau road in Azare/Katagun Local Government Area with 288 blocks of skunk weighing 154.5 kilograms.
Further operations in Ekiti State led to the recovery of 466.8 kilograms of skunk from the residence of a suspect, Layit John Matthew, 56, located on Ilaro Street in Isinbode-Ekiti. Authorities said the suspect had planned to transport the illicit substances to Yola in Adamawa State.
In Cross River State, NDLEA officers, supported by military personnel, raided farmland in Uyanga community, Akamkpa Local Government Area, on Saturday, April 25, where they destroyed approximately 20,000 kilograms of cannabis cultivated across eight hectares of land. During the operation, 170 kilograms of processed cannabis were also recovered.
In another development, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kontagora-Zuru road in Niger State on Wednesday, April 22, intercepted a suspect, 26-year-old Mohammed Aliyu, who was found in possession of 394 components used in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices. He was transporting the materials in a red Toyota vehicle with registration number KNT 617 AE en route to Shadadi in Mariga Local Government Area. Authorities confirmed that both the suspect and the recovered materials would be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
Beyond enforcement, the Agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign across the country, targeting schools, religious institutions, workplaces, and communities. Recent outreach efforts included awareness programmes at Mallam Salisu Islamic School in Paiko, Niger State; Madarasatul Abdulrahman Bin Auf Litahafizul Quran in Kano State; Sani Zango Daura Model Primary School in Katsina State; and community development associations in Badagry, Lagos State.
As part of the advocacy efforts, the Zonal Commander of NDLEA Zone 4, ACGN Bridget Viashiama, led a delegation on a sensitisation visit to the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, reinforcing the need for sustained collaboration in combating drug abuse and trafficking.
Commending the officers and men across various state commands, including Kwara, Oyo, Edo, Cross River, Bauchi, Ekiti, Niger, and Lagos, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), praised their balanced approach combining drug supply reduction with preventive education.
He particularly highlighted the interception of 10,000 pills of Captagon in Kwara State as a significant operational success, describing it as a major disruption of efforts by drug syndicates to revive a distribution pipeline that had remained largely inactive since the landmark seizure at the Apapa seaport five years ago.
Marwa warned that the reappearance of the substance signals renewed attempts by traffickers to exploit vulnerabilities, stressing that Captagon remains a dangerous drug often linked to insurgent activities due to its ability to suppress fear and fatigue.
βWe are not just seizing pills; we are disrupting the fuel that powers violence in our communities. Our operatives remain on high alert across all frontiers to ensure this illicit trade finds no foothold,β he stated.
The latest wave of seizures and arrests underscores the scale and complexity of Nigeriaβs drug trafficking challenge, while also highlighting intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat the growing threat through coordinated operations, intelligence gathering, and public sensitisation initiatives.
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