The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks after arresting three persons living with disabilities for allegedly participating in illicit drug operations in separate raids carried out across Anambra and Kwara states. The operation, which also led to the discovery of a multi billion naira cannabis warehouse in Lagos, highlights the growing sophistication and desperation within drug trafficking circles in Nigeria.
According to the NDLEA, the suspects included a 60 year old man and two other physically challenged individuals allegedly linked to the movement and distribution of illegal substances. The arrests were made during coordinated intelligence driven operations conducted by officers of the anti narcotics agency as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking syndicates operating within different parts of the country.
The agency disclosed that beyond the arrest of the suspects, operatives also uncovered a massive cannabis stash house located in the Lekki area of Lagos State. Authorities estimated the value of the confiscated drugs at approximately ₦5.8 billion, making it one of the largest seizures recorded in recent months. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development in an official statement released on Sunday. He explained that the operations formed part of the agency’s broader campaign against drug abuse, trafficking and the activities of organised criminal groups profiting from the illegal narcotics trade.
Investigations by the agency also led to the dismantling of a skuchies production factory in Lagos. Skuchies, a dangerous street cocktail popularly abused by young people, is often produced by mixing blackcurrant drinks, cannabis, opioids and other harmful substances. Health experts have repeatedly warned that the consumption of such mixtures poses severe risks including organ damage, mental health complications, addiction and sudden death.
The latest arrests have generated widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing concern over the increasing involvement of vulnerable individuals in criminal drug networks. Others pointed to the worsening economic hardship in the country, arguing that criminal syndicates often exploit people living with disabilities and economically disadvantaged citizens to evade suspicion during trafficking operations.
Security analysts have also warned that the drug trade in Nigeria is becoming more coordinated and financially rewarding for criminal groups, especially as traffickers continue to adopt new methods of concealment and recruitment. They noted that the use of warehouses, hidden factories and unconventional couriers reflects the evolving structure of narcotics operations across the country.
The NDLEA under the leadership of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has sustained aggressive anti drug campaigns, arrests and awareness programmes aimed at reducing substance abuse and trafficking nationwide. The agency has repeatedly warned that anyone found participating in the cultivation, transportation, distribution or sale of illegal drugs would face prosecution regardless of status, age or physical condition.
The recent operation adds to a growing list of major seizures and arrests recorded by the agency in 2026 as authorities continue to battle rising concerns over drug abuse among Nigerian youths and the expansion of organised narcotics syndicates across the country.
