Drug War: Baron, Five Others Nabbed as NDLEA Busts Illicit Drug Warehouse, Recovers N6.7 Billion Worth of Opioids in Lagos
By Raheem Ibrahim
A notorious drug baron, Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu, and five members of his gang have been apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos.
In its continued manhunt and offensive action against drug syndicates under a nationwide crackdown, the agency recovered illicit substances worth over N6.7 billion from the gang’s secret warehouse located within a residential estate in the state.
According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the breakthrough, “Following credible intelligence that the drug trafficking organisation (DTO) was about to distribute over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million mls) of codeine syrup warehoused in a residential compound located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri area of Isolo, Lagos State, ahead of the Christmas festive season, officers of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA led a well-coordinated operation between Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th November 2025 to round up members of the syndicate and dismantle their criminal network.”
He added, “Two members of the DTO — Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel — were trailed and arrested at Apple Junction, Festac area of Lagos on Wednesday 19th November while conveying 300 cartons of opioids in a truck. A follow-up operation to the syndicate’s warehouse at Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, on Thursday 20th November led to the arrest of Onyekachi Nwanagu and other members of his syndicate, including Nwoye Sunday Ali, Nnacho Ogochukwu, and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.”
Babafemi further disclosed that “a total of 7,272,000 pills of tramadol 225mg worth N3,960,000,000 and 53 million millilitres of codeine syrup valued at N2,762,550,000 — bringing the combined street value to N6,722,550,000 — were recovered and moved out of the estate in eleven trucks to the NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the Commander and operatives of the Special Operations Unit as well as the Strike Force Unit involved in the dismantling of the syndicate. He praised the officers’ professionalism and dedication, describing the breakthrough as a major blow to cartels preying on Nigeria’s youth.
He said, “This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement. The seizure of this colossal volume of illicit drugs, which could have fueled addiction, crime, and insecurity across our nation, represents a victory for the Nigerian people and a confirmation of our strong commitment to the mandate given to us by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Marwa emphasized that the agency remains focused on targeting kingpins and financiers of the illicit drug trade, stating, “The days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over. The arrest of this drug baron and his criminal cohorts, following an intensive intelligence operation, serves as a stark reminder that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with every merchant of death, no matter how high or deeply concealed they think they are.”
