The discovery of a Colorado production factory in Ibadan and the interception of methamphetamine hidden in everyday consumer items have once again exposed the evolving sophistication of drug trafficking networks operating across Nigeria, News Bracket reports.
These discoveries formed the core of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) intensified nationwide crackdown in the week that ended on Saturday, revealing how traffickers increasingly exploit ordinary spaces, food items, and electronics to move illicit substances undetected.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives uncovered a makeshift warehouse within Fums Plaza, Kubwa, where a staggering 627.7 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, was recovered. Security experts say the use of commercial plazas as storage hubs reflects a growing strategy to blend illegal operations into busy urban environments.
On February 6, 2026, NDLEA officers in Abuja intercepted a commercial bus travelling from Enugu to Abuja and Kaduna, uncovering consignments of methamphetamine concealed inside MP3 speakers. The suspects linked to the operation—Ebube Okeke, Evans Ugwu, Mohammed Eze Arinze, and Friday Michael—were immediately placed under investigation.
A follow-up intelligence operation in Zuba, FCT, led to the arrest of Ebube Okeke, identified as the owner of one of the intercepted parcels containing 173 grams of methamphetamine. Days later, on February 7, NDLEA operatives arrested Evans Ugwu, Mohammed Eze Arinze, and Friday Michael in Kaduna as they attempted to collect a second consignment weighing 28 grams.
The agency also intercepted a more unusual concealment method in Taraba State. Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA officers at the Dan-Anacha Patrol Point in Gassol Local Government Area stopped a vehicle on February 6 conveying packs of Hollandia yoghurt from Lagos to Mubi, Adamawa State. A thorough search revealed wraps of methamphetamine hidden inside some of the yoghurt packs, with the total weight confirmed at 1.8 kilograms.
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives on February 5 arrested a 29-year-old Beninoise national, Shuaibu Abdulrahman, at Ibudo-Igboho village, Sooro Kishi. Recovered from the suspect were 149.6 kilograms of skunk concealed in rice shafts, highlighting the continued use of agricultural products as cover for cross-border drug movement.
A separate operation in Ibadan on February 4 led to the arrest of Adeniyi Adeola, popularly known as Prince, at Foko in Agbeni Market. A search of his truck, bearing registration number BDJ 767 YC, yielded 10,820 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 117,820 capsules of tramadol—both substances frequently abused and trafficked illegally.
Security Implications
According to News Bracket, the latest arrests and seizures have disrupted multiple supply lines feeding drug markets across the country, particularly in the North and South-West corridors. Analysts warn that the discovery of a Colorado factory in Ibadan points to a dangerous shift toward local production, which could increase drug availability and deepen substance abuse among youths if not aggressively contained.
The busts are expected to trigger wider investigations into distribution networks, logistics collaborators, and funding sources linked to the suspects. Those arrested now face prosecution under Nigeria’s drug laws, which carry stiff penalties, including lengthy prison terms.
For security agencies, the operations underline the need for sustained intelligence gathering and stricter monitoring of transport routes, markets, and commercial hubs—spaces that traffickers continue to exploit as cover for illicit trade.
As NDLEA intensifies its campaign, the message, authorities say, is clear: no concealment method is beyond detection, and the cost of drug trafficking is becoming increasingly high.
