NDLEA arrests suspected bandits’ drug supplier in Niger

The suspect, Mohammed Sani. Credit: NDLEA

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State and intercepted multiple consignments of drugs concealed in containers of local black soap and other items.

The suspect, Mohammed Sani, also known as Gamboli, was arrested on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at Anguwan Fadama, Kuta, three weeks after he escaped arrest during a raid on his residence in Anguwan Makera, Kuta.

NDLEA operatives had earlier, on November 20, raided his house and recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

In a statement released on Sunday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect fled during the operation but was later traced to his hideout through intelligence-led efforts. He said intelligence reports linked him to the supply of illicit drugs to bandits in the area.

Babafemi said, “Three weeks after escaping arrest at his home in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in the area, 33-year-old Mohammed Sani (alias Gamboli), has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at his hideout.

“Following credible intelligence about the illicit drug activities of Gamboli, NDLEA operatives had on November 20, 2025, raided his house at Anguwan Makera, Kuta, where they recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

“On December 11, NDLEA officers, acting on processed intelligence, traced and arrested him at one of his drug joints in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta.

“Intelligence reports had indicated that Gamboli is a major supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro Local Government Area.”

He also said operatives intercepted 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam concealed in containers of local black soap and designer wear in six consignments bound for the United States, Canada and Sweden.

“No fewer than 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam concealed in containers of local black soap and designer wear, in six different consignments going to the US, Canada and Sweden, were intercepted and seized by NDLEA operatives at two major courier companies in Lagos between Tuesday, December 9, and Wednesday, December 10, 2025,” Babafemi said.

In Abia State, he said NDLEA operatives, on December 11, raided a clandestine codeine syrup manufacturing factory at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, in Osisioma Local Government Area, where 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 1,152.2 kilograms were recovered.

In Enugu State, operatives arrested Ossai Emeka, 45, along the Onitsha–Enugu Ezike Road with 7.2 kilograms of skunk, while Enoje Agada, 40, was arrested along the Enugu Ezike–Ette Road with 94.6 kilograms of the same substance.

In Oyo State, he said a raid on a drug joint known as “Beere the California” at Ido, Ibadan, on December 11 led to the seizure of 3.4 kilograms of skunk, 1.6 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, and 400 grams of methamphetamine.

He said, “A raid carried out by NDLEA operatives at a notorious drug joint known as ‘Beere the California’ at Ido in Oyo State on Thursday, December 11, led to the seizure of 3.4kg of skunk, 1.6kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, and 400 grams of methamphetamine. The owner of the drug joint, identified as ‘Idowu the killer’, is currently at large, while a suspect, Ajibade Faruk, was arrested at the joint.

“Another operation at Idi Oro, Elekuro, Ibadan, on Friday, December 12, led to the arrest of Olusanya Abosede, 35, and the seizure of 238.4kg of skunk, while the duo of Bashiru Babalola, 43, and Ugunwale Ranti, 50, were arrested on Wednesday, December 10, at the Gbaji checkpoint, Seme Road, Badagry, Lagos, with 50,000 pills of tramadol.”

In Ondo State, he said NDLEA officers raided a compound in Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area, where a 55-year-old woman, Veronica Obi, and her 29-year-old son, Bright Obi, were arrested with 1,187 kilograms of skunk and its seeds.

In Edo State, Babafemi said Ohiomah Igbafe, 44, was arrested at Uroe community in Owan East Local Government Area with 461 kilograms of skunk and its seeds.

“In Gombe State, a suspect, Muhammed Sani (alias Sha-Mu-Sha), 50, was arrested with 40,000 capsules of tramadol at the Tunfure area of Gombe, while two other suspects, Muhammad Abdullahi (alias Sakalala), 52, and Muhammed Hamza (alias Mamman), 32, were arrested at Ashaka Jalingo with 56kg of skunk on Monday, December 8,” the statement added.

At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA officers, on December 13, intercepted a container carrying 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579 kilograms during a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

Commending the officers involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) urged personnel nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts.

The PUNCH journalist, Solomon, has five years experience covering crime, judiciary and defence beats.

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