NDLEA intercepts Captagon consignment, expands nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking
The operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a major consignment of Captagon, a highly addictive amphetamine linked to insurgency and organised crime, in a series of coordinated anti-drug operations across Nigeria.
In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said the breakthrough occurred on April 21 along Bode Saadu Road in Kwara State, where operatives on routine patrol stopped a passenger vehicle.
A search of a suspect, 33-year-old Nasiru Mu’azu, led to the recovery of 10,000 pills of Captagon, alongside nine packets of the opioid Tapentadol.
Security Concerns Over Captagon Spread
Captagon, widely abused in parts of the Middle East, is known for enhancing alertness and aggression, characteristics that have made it a substance of concern in conflict zones.
Its trafficking has been linked to transnational criminal networks and extremist groups, including those associated with Islamic State (ISIS).
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Authorities warn that its emergence in Nigeria signals potential security risks tied to illicit drug-financed violence.
Expanded Seizures Across Multiple States
In a related operation on April 24 at the same Kwara checkpoint, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer with a hidden compartment containing large quantities of controlled pharmaceuticals. The seizure included:
155,900 capsules of tramadol
6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection
3,000 tablets of co-codamol
9,000 tablets of bromazepam
A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, was arrested in connection with the haul.
Elsewhere, along the Ibadan-Oyo expressway, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect who had ingested illicit drugs.
The individual later excreted 45 pellets of cocaine weighing over one kilogram, with investigations revealing plans to traffic the drugs to Europe via trans-Saharan routes through Algeria.
Nationwide Crackdown Intensifies
The agency reported additional significant seizures across the country:
In Edo State, over 1.1 million opioid pills were recovered from a truck bound for Onitsha
In Lagos, 810 kilograms of cannabis (Arizona strain) were seized
In Bauchi State, 154.5 kilograms of skunk were confiscated
In Ekiti State, 466.8 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a residence
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In Cross River State, a joint operation destroyed 20,000 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on eight hectares of farmland
In a separate operation in Niger State, NDLEA officers intercepted a suspect transporting 394 components used for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which have since been handed over to relevant security agencies.
NDLEA Leadership Reacts
NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the Captagon interception as a critical disruption of attempts to establish a dangerous drug supply chain in Nigeria.
“We are not just seizing pills; we are disrupting the fuel that powers violence in our communities,” Marwa said.
He emphasised the agency’s commitment to maintaining pressure on drug trafficking networks, combining enforcement with public sensitisation efforts.
The scale and geographic spread of the seizures underscore the evolving complexity of Nigeria’s drug trafficking landscape, with increasing links to international networks and security threats.
Authorities say sustained enforcement actions and inter-agency collaboration will be crucial in preventing the country from becoming a major hub for high-risk narcotics and related criminal activities.
