The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a fresh consignment of Captagon, an amphetamine commonly known as the 'terror drug,' in Kwara State. This seizure occurs five years after the first major discovery of the substance in Africa, according to a statement by the agency's Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
The operation took place on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, during a routine patrol along the Bode Saadu road. Operatives searching a passenger trailer apprehended a 33-year-old suspect, Nasiru Mu'azu, who was found in possession of 10,000 Captagon pills and several packets of Tapenade.
Captagon is often dubbed the terror drug due to its widespread use by insurgent groups like ISIS to inhibit fear and fatigue. It is a highly addictive stimulant, said the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd). He described the bust as a major blow to syndicates attempting to revive a trade that has been largely dormant since a landmark seizure at the Apapa Seaport in 2021.
“We are not just seizing pills, we are disrupting the fuel that powers violence in our communities. Our operatives remain on high alert to ensure this illicit trade finds no foothold in Nigeria,” Marwa stated.
Other arrests during the week include the interception of a 33-year-old businessman, Eze Prince Emeka, on the Ibadan-Oyo Expressway. A body scan confirmed he had swallowed 45 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.043 kilograms. Investigations revealed he intended to travel by road to evade airport security, with plans to re-ingest the drugs in Sokoto for transport across the Sahara to Europe.
In Edo State, officers recovered nearly 1.2 million opioid pills from a truck on the Benin-Lagos Expressway. In Kwara, a trailer was found with 155,900 tramadol capsules and thousands of other restricted tablets hidden in a purpose-built false compartment.
In Cross River State, NDLEA officers, supported by the military, raided the Uyanga community, destroying 20,000 kilograms of cannabis across eight hectares of farmland and recovering 170 kilograms of processed skunk. Operatives also arrested a 26-year-old suspect, Mohammed Aliyu, in Niger State with 394 components used for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The suspect and the explosives are being transferred to relevant security agencies for further counter-terrorism investigations.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign, holding enlightenment lectures across schools and community centres in Niger, Kano, Katsina, and Lagos states to educate the public on the dangers of substance abuse.
Brig. Gen. Marwa commended the tactical precision of the various commands, noting that the agency's balanced approach of supply reduction and public advocacy remains the cornerstone of its strategy to secure the nation's borders and communities.
