The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered three illegal drug storage sites concealed within a residential estate in the Okota area of Lagos State, seizing narcotics estimated at N16.9 billion.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency revealed that the operation resulted in the recovery of 2,360,000 tablets of high-strength tramadol (225mg) and 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup found at the locations.
READ MORE: Dangote increases the price of petrol to N1,275 per litre
According to the agency, the intelligence-driven raid was carried out on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 98 Olukayode Awofisayo Street and 5 Charles Ndumetu Street within Park View Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, where the hidden warehouses were discovered.
The NDLEA stated that the seized items included 19,094 cartons containing 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup, as well as 34 cartons of tramadol tablets stored within the estate.
Reacting to the development, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the operation as a significant blow to a drug trafficking network operating within residential neighbourhoods.
Marwa said the scale of the seizure—nearly 4.3 million units of dangerous substances—demonstrates that the agency remains ahead of drug traffickers.
He added that hiding such large quantities in residential areas highlights both the methods used by drug syndicates and the strength of the agency’s intelligence gathering.
According to him, discovering such volumes in estates like Park View and busy areas such as Okota reflects the desperation of traffickers while also showcasing the effectiveness of NDLEA operations.
Marwa warned that drug traffickers would find no refuge in the country, stressing that the agency would continue to identify and dismantle their networks wherever they operate.
He emphasised that those profiting from the harm caused to young people would be tracked down, their operations dismantled, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The NDLEA noted that the raid is part of its ongoing campaign against illegal drug trade and substance abuse across Nigeria.
About The Author
