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Six Drug Traffickers Arrested in Major Operation Against Terrorist-linked Cartels
Six key members of two major cross-border drug trafficking rings have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), following months of surveillance. The syndicates, which had ties to terrorist groups operating in Nigeria and Cameroon, involved individuals from Adamawa, Anambra, Lagos, and Cameroon.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrests on Sunday, revealing that drugs worth billions of naira, including cocaine and opioids, were seized during the operation. The suspects arrested were identified as Ibrahim Bawuro, Najib Ibrahim, Ibrahim Umar, Nelson Anayo, Ezehi Martin, and Adejumo Ishola.
The investigation showed that the syndicates were primarily involved in supplying drugs to terror groups, with some members sourcing psychoactive substances like tramadol from notorious dealers in Onitsha, Anambra State. The drugs were concealed in specially modified vehicles for transport to northern Nigeria and Cameroon.
On October 7, 2024, Bawuro and Najib were apprehended in Taraba State after attempting to transport a consignment of 276,500 tramadol pills. In subsequent operations across Delta, Anambra, and other states, key members of the syndicates were captured, with drugs confiscated.
Additionally, another major arrest occurred on November 5, 2024, when Adejumo Ishola, a key figure in a different drug ring, was apprehended at the Seme border while attempting to smuggle 3.3 kg of cocaine and 600 grams of synthetic cannabis from Ghana.
Other recent NDLEA operations led to the seizure of millions of opioid pills, cannabis, and codeine syrup, while several suspects were arrested in locations across Kwara, Lagos, and Abuja.
The crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug cartels linked to terrorism and to curb the illegal drug trade in the country. Babafemi reaffirmed that the NDLEA remains committed to combating the supply of illicit drugs and their connection to organized crime.
