NDLEA intercepts terror drug ‘captagon’ in Kwara, recovers cocaine pellets in Oyo
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, the latest seizure was made on Tuesday, April 21, when operatives of the agency on patrol along Bode Saadu road intercepted a trailer conveying passengers.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have intercepted a consignment of the illicit drug “captagon” in Kwara state, barely five years after the agency recorded its first seizure of the substance in Africa at the Apapa Port.
According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, the latest seizure was made on Tuesday, April 21, when operatives of the agency on patrol along Bode Saadu road intercepted a trailer conveying passengers.
Babafemi said in a statement issued on Sunday that a search of one of the passengers, Nasiru Mu’azu, 33, led to the recovery of 10 packs of captagon containing 10,000 pills, alongside nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg.
“Captagon is described as a highly addictive amphetamine widely circulated in parts of the Middle East,” the statement reads.
“The substance is known to induce prolonged wakefulness and heightened stimulation, and its trafficking has been linked to criminal networks operating in conflict regions.”
He added that operatives in Oyo state also intercepted a commercial bus at Akinyele along the Ibadan/Oyo expressway on April 21.
The NDLEA spokesperson said a passenger, Eze Prince Emeka, 33, was removed from the vehicle and taken for a body scan, which confirmed ingestion of illicit substances.
The suspect, who claimed to be a businessman travelling to Sokoto, was placed under observation, during which he excreted 45 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms in three phases.
“Investigations revealed that he intended to transport the substances through trans-Saharan routes, with Algeria listed as a transit point, while the drugs were believed to be destined for Europe,” he added.
He said NDLEA officers in Edo state intercepted a truck along the Benin/Lagos expressway on April 25 conveying 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids.
“Two suspects — Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44 — were arrested in connection with the consignment, which was reportedly heading to Onitsha,” he added.
IED MATERIALS INTERCEPTED IN NIGER STATE
In another development, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives intercepted 394 components suspected to be materials for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Niger state.
He said a suspect, Mohammed Aliyu, 26, was arrested while transporting the materials along the Kontagora/Zuru road.
He added that the suspect and recovered items are to be handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation.
According to him, Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended officers across affected states for their efforts in curbing drug trafficking.
Marwa described the interception of the 10,000 captagon pills in Kwara as a significant blow to drug trafficking networks attempting to revive supply routes that had remained largely inactive since the earlier seizure at Apapa Port.
He said the agency remains committed to preventing the spread of captagon in Nigeria.
“We are not just seizing pills; we are disrupting the networks that fuel insecurity. Our operatives remain on high alert across all frontiers to ensure this illicit trade finds no foothold,” he said.
