NDLEA intercepts ‘Jihadi drug’, N4.6bn opioids in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted large quantities of illegal drugs, including captagon, commonly known as the "Jihadi drug," and opioid tablets at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Director of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, announced the seizure in a statement on Sunday. On August 22, 2026, the agency's operatives apprehended Akinbile Kazeem Aikins, a 49-year-old cross-border drug kingpin who had arrived from Accra, Ghana, on an African World Airlines flight.

Aikins was found in possession of 47,200 pills of illicit amphetamine drug, concealed within blocks of local Ghana soap, valued at over N1.5 billion. The captagon shipment was also seized at the same airport. In a separate operation, NDLEA recovered over 3.9 million tablets of Tramaking 225mg and Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 2,787.40kg, with an estimated street value of more than N4.6 billion.

These drugs were found in four abandoned consignments at the MMIA after no one claimed them. Additionally, NDLEA agents in Rivers State recovered illicit drugs from a fireproof iron safe in the Abuja Down/Up area of Port Harcourt. Other arrests and seizures were reported in Ondo, Delta, and Lagos states. NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.

Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers and urged them to continue their efforts against drug trafficking, warning against the use of household items to conceal drugs.