Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered and raided three major illicit drug warehouses hidden inside a residential estate in the Okota area of Lagos State, recovering opioids worth a staggering ₦16.9 billion.
In a high-level intelligence-led operation conducted on Friday, 17 April 2026, operatives stormed locations within Park View Estate, Ago Palace Way, where massive quantities of dangerous drugs were discovered.
According to the agency in a statement signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Femi Babafemi, a total of 2.36 million tablets of high-strength Tramadol (225mg) and over 1.9 million bottles of codeine syrup were seized. The drugs were stored in multiple cartons carefully concealed within residential buildings.
The combined street value of the seized substances is estimated at ₦16,927,200,000, marking one of the largest opioid busts in recent times.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the operation as a major blow to drug trafficking networks operating in the country.
He praised the operatives for their professionalism and intelligence-led approach, noting that criminal networks are increasingly hiding illegal substances in residential areas, but assured that nowhere is safe for traffickers.
Marwa warned drug cartels that the agency will continue to dismantle their operations and cut off their financial base, stressing that NDLEA’s reach remains firm and relentless.
He added that the seizure demonstrates the agency’s growing intelligence capacity and commitment to protecting young Nigerians from drug abuse and addiction.
The NDLEA says investigations are ongoing to track and arrest members of the drug syndicate behind the warehouses.