The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 380 rounds of military-grade ammunition in Kaduna State and arrested several suspects, including a couple linked to the possession of more than 1.2 tonnes of cannabis, in a series of operations across the country.
The agency said the operations, carried out in Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Enugu states, formed part of its ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking, disrupt criminal networks and reduce the circulation of illicit substances.
The NDLEA disclosed the arrests and seizures in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway at Jere intercepted a suspect identified as 30-year-old Sunusi Musa while allegedly transporting military-grade ammunition to Katsina State.
Babafemi said the suspect was arrested on May 24 after officers discovered 380 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition in his possession.
The ammunition is commonly associated with military and security operations and is often used in assault rifles.
The NDLEA said the suspect and the recovered ammunition had since been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The interception of the ammunition comes at a time when security agencies are intensifying efforts to curb the activities of armed groups operating in several regions of the country.
In a separate operation in Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested a married couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, along with another suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, aged 38.
The arrests followed the recovery of 100 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, from a residence in the Gonin Gora area of Kaduna.
According to the agency, the seized drugs weighed a total of 1,246 kilograms, making it one of the major cannabis seizures recorded by the command in recent months.
Babafemi said the operation was based on intelligence gathered by the agency and formed part of efforts to dismantle drug distribution networks operating within and outside the state.
The NDLEA has continued to identify Kaduna as one of the states where large quantities of illicit drugs are often trafficked due to its strategic location and road connections to different parts of the country.
The agency has repeatedly warned that the illegal drug trade contributes to rising crime, insecurity and public health challenges.
Beyond Kaduna, the NDLEA also recorded significant seizures in Lagos State, where operatives uncovered consignments of hard drugs concealed inside water purifier machines imported from the Netherlands.
According to the agency, the drugs were discovered at a courier company in Lagos on May 26 during routine inspection procedures.
The recovered substances included three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, popularly known as ecstasy.
Babafemi explained that traffickers carefully concealed the drugs inside the machines in an attempt to evade detection by security agencies.
However, NDLEA officers conducting examinations of imported goods reportedly uncovered the hidden consignments before they could be distributed.
The seizure highlights a growing trend in which drug traffickers use sophisticated concealment methods to smuggle illegal substances into the country through cargo shipments, courier services and international logistics channels.
Authorities have consistently warned that international drug syndicates are adopting increasingly creative techniques to move narcotics across borders.
In recent years, NDLEA operatives have discovered illicit drugs hidden in food items, clothing, electronics, vehicle parts and other everyday products.
The agency has strengthened inspection procedures at airports, seaports and courier facilities to counter such tactics.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence reportedly raided a warehouse located in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area.
During the operation, officers recovered 457 kilograms of skunk stored inside the facility.
Following the raid, a suspect identified as 46-year-old Godwin Zakka was arrested at his residence in the Gbeganu area of Minna.
The agency said investigations were ongoing to determine the full extent of the operation and identify other persons who may be connected to the illicit drug business.
Similarly, in Enugu State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial vehicle travelling along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway on May 28.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of large quantities of controlled pharmaceutical substances, including 22,000 pills of tramadol, 100 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 grams of bromazepam.
The vehicle was reportedly heading to Taraba State when it was intercepted.
One suspect, identified as James Maigari Wisdom, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Tramadol, pentazocine and bromazepam are among the substances frequently abused in Nigeria, particularly among young people and criminal groups.
Security agencies have repeatedly linked the abuse of such drugs to violent crimes, road accidents, mental health problems and other social challenges.
The NDLEA has in recent years intensified efforts to curb the illegal distribution and misuse of these substances through intelligence-led operations and public awareness campaigns.
Apart from enforcement activities, the agency said its commands and formations across the country have continued to engage in anti-drug education and sensitization programs.
According to the statement, officers conducted lectures, awareness campaigns and community outreach activities in schools, places of worship, workplaces and local communities.
The programs are aimed at educating Nigerians, especially young people, about the dangers of drug abuse and the consequences of involvement in illicit drug trafficking.
The NDLEA has maintained that reducing demand for illegal drugs is as important as disrupting supply chains.
Commenting on the latest operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the arrests and seizures.
The retired brigadier-general praised personnel of the Kaduna, Niger and Enugu state commands, as well as operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, for their commitment and professionalism.
Marwa urged officers nationwide to remain focused on the agency’s twin objectives of reducing drug supply and preventing drug abuse through public education.
He said sustained enforcement operations and community engagement remain critical to winning the fight against illicit drugs and protecting communities from the harmful effects of substance abuse.
The latest seizures highlight the scale of the challenge facing law enforcement agencies as they continue efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and prevent dangerous substances and illegal weapons from finding their way into Nigerian communities.