NDLEA Seizes Drug Shipments Hidden in Water Purifiers from Europe, Intercepts Military-Grade Ammunition in Kaduna
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered consignments of illicit drugs concealed inside water purifier machines imported from the Netherlands, while also intercepting a cache of military-grade ammunition in Kaduna State as part of a series of operations across the country aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks.
The anti-narcotics agency disclosed that its operatives discovered and seized high-potency drugs hidden in water purifier machines shipped to Lagos from Europe. The seizure was made at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.
According to the agency, the illicit consignments consisted of three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy, which had been carefully concealed within the machines in an apparent attempt to evade detection by security agencies.
The latest discovery forms part of intensified efforts by the NDLEA to curb the influx of narcotic substances into Nigeria through various entry channels, including courier services and international cargo shipments.
In a separate operation in Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested a couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, alongside another suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, aged 38, following the seizure of 100 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 1,246 kilograms.
The drugs were recovered from the suspects’ residence in the Gonin Gora area of Kaduna on Sunday, 24 May.
The same day, NDLEA officers conducting patrol operations along the Abuja–Kaduna Highway near Jere intercepted a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, who was found in possession of 380 rounds of military-grade RLA 7.62mm ammunition allegedly being transported to Katsina State.
The agency stated that both the suspect and the ammunition had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and necessary action.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse located in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, where they recovered 457 kilograms of skunk on Wednesday, 27 May.
Following the operation, a 46-year-old suspect, Godwin Zakka, was arrested at his residence in the Gbeganu area of Minna in connection with the seized drugs.
Similarly, in Enugu State, operatives on patrol along the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway intercepted a commercial vehicle travelling to Taraba State on Thursday, 28 May.
A search of the vehicle, bearing registration number JAY-158-YF, led to the recovery of 22,000 tramadol pills, 100 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 grams of bromazepam.
The driver, identified as James Maigari Wisdom, was subsequently arrested and taken into custody for further investigation.
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said its Commands and formations nationwide continued to intensify public sensitisation campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.
Over the past week, the agency conducted anti-drug enlightenment programmes in educational institutions and communities across the country.
These included awareness lectures for students and staff of Government Secondary School, Adiabo in Cross River State; St Patrick’s Memorial College, Wukari in Taraba State; Roman Catholic Mission Nursery and Primary School, Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos State; and Kings Secondary School, Amawbia in Anambra State.
Commenting on the operations, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and personnel of the Kaduna, Niger and Enugu Commands, as well as the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), for their successful arrests and seizures.
Marwa praised their commitment to reducing the supply of illicit drugs while simultaneously promoting drug abuse prevention through public education and advocacy.
He urged officers and personnel across the country to sustain the momentum and remain steadfast in the agency’s campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
