The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly men, aged 84 and 75, over their alleged involvement in selling illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State, in what the agency described as part of its intensified nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking and abuse.
The suspects, identified as 84-year-old Godfrey Orji and 75-year-old Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora, were apprehended in separate operations following intelligence reports linking them to the distribution of illicit substances, including opioids, to teenagers.
According to the NDLEA, Obiora was arrested on Friday, June 19, 2026, after credible intelligence revealed that he was allegedly selling illicit drugs from a patent medicine shop located on Club Road in Umuahia.
A search conducted on the premises reportedly led to the recovery of 4.64 kilograms of controlled substances, including tramadol and diazepam.
In a separate operation, Godfrey Orji, an 84-year-old pensioner, was arrested after security personnel at Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia, allegedly caught him supplying drugs to two teenage students within the school environment.
The suspect was initially handed over to the police before being transferred to the NDLEA on June 18 for further investigation.
Student Confession Exposes Drug Supply Chain
Investigators said one of the students involved, a 15-year-old Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) pupil, confessed during interrogation that Orji had been supplying him with illicit substances.
The student reportedly admitted that he not only consumed the drugs but also distributed them to other students, raising concerns about the growing penetration of illicit substances into secondary schools.
The NDLEA said both elderly suspects would face prosecution in accordance with the law, while the students involved have been placed under counselling and rehabilitation programmes aimed at helping them recover from substance abuse and preventing future involvement in drug-related activities.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives intercepted a shipment containing 9.5 kilograms of ADB-Chminaca, a highly potent synthetic cannabinoid classified as a dangerous new psychoactive substance.
The consignment, which arrived from China, was discovered during an operation at a courier company in Lagos, where it had been concealed inside a carton in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
The agency said the seizure highlights the increasing sophistication of drug trafficking networks and the growing threat posed by synthetic substances entering the country.
Operatives also intercepted 300 grams of “Loud,” a highly potent strain of cannabis, concealed inside ladies’ handbags at a logistics company in Lagos.
The seizure forms part of ongoing efforts by the agency to dismantle drug distribution channels operating through courier and logistics services.
Wanted Drug Dealer’s Residence Raided
NDLEA officers further raided the residence of a wanted drug dealer, Lukman Badmus, in the Ogombo area of Ajah, Lagos.
During the operation, officers recovered quantities of codeine syrup and skunk. A follow-up raid at a shop operated by the suspect’s wife resulted in the seizure of additional drugs and drug-related paraphernalia.
The agency said attempts by the woman to destroy evidence before the arrival of operatives were unsuccessful, as officers quickly secured the premises and recovered the items.
In Kogi State, NDLEA officers intercepted a suspect transporting methamphetamine concealed inside custard containers along the Okene-Lokoja highway.
In Ekiti State, a couple wanted in connection with the seizure of 117 kilograms of cannabis were finally apprehended after spending months on the run from law enforcement authorities.
Meanwhile, in Oyo State, operatives arrested three suspects following a raid on a building in the Dangote area of Oyo town, where they uncovered 1,416 kilograms of skunk concealed inside jumbo bags and covered with sawdust.
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The agency also intensified operations against cannabis cultivation in Edo State, carrying out a series of forest raids that led to the destruction of large cannabis plantations.
Several suspects linked to the cultivation and trafficking of illicit drugs were arrested during the operations as authorities moved to disrupt supply chains at their source.
Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA said it continued to expand its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign across schools, worship centres and communities nationwide.
The initiative is designed to educate young people and the wider public on the dangers of substance abuse while promoting prevention and early intervention strategies.
Commending officers involved in the various operations, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) urged personnel across the country to sustain the momentum in the agency’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking and abuse.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting communities, dismantling drug networks and preventing illicit substances from reaching vulnerable populations, particularly young people.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.