Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and dismantled three illegal drug warehouses concealed within a residential estate in the Okota area of Lagos, seizing large quantities of illicit substances valued at over N16.9 billion.
According to a statement released by the agency on Wednesday, the operation was carried out on April 17, 2026, following coordinated intelligence gathering. The raids targeted multiple properties within Park View Estate, Ago Palace, including a major storage facility located at 98 Olukayode Awofisayo Street, as well as two additional sites at 5 Charles Ndumetu Street.
During the operation, NDLEA officials recovered 2,360,000 pills of high-strength tramadol (225mg) and 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup. The substances were packed in 19,094 cartons of codeine syrup and 34 cartons containing tramadol tablets, highlighting the scale of the illegal distribution network.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the operation had dealt a significant blow to drug trafficking activities, effectively disrupting a major supply chain.
He commended the operatives involved, noting that the seizure represents a key milestone in ongoing efforts to combat substance abuse and illegal drug distribution across the country.
“The scale of this recovery, nearly 4.3 million units of lethal substances, is a testament to the fact that our officers are staying several steps ahead of these merchants of death. To find such volumes hidden within residential estates like Park View and busy hubs like Okota shows the desperation of these cartels, but it also highlights the peerless intelligence capabilities of our team,” he said.
Marwa also issued a strong warning to those engaged in the illicit drug trade, emphasizing that enforcement actions would continue and that no safe haven exists for traffickers.
“Let this be a clear signal to those who think they can profit from the destruction of our children’s futures: we will find you, we will dismantle your networks, and we will bring the full weight of the law upon you”, he warned.
