NDLEA drug raids across several states have netted a 75-year-old grandmother and two couples, with the agency recovering more than 1.5 tonnes of illicit drugs. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said the coordinated operations spanned Oyo, Lagos and Ekiti states as it intensified its anti-narcotics drive.
Inside the latest NDLEA drug raids
In Oyo Town, operatives recovered 118 jumbo bags containing about 1,416 kilogrammes of skunk concealed under sawdust in the elderly suspect’s house, according to the agency. The seizure formed the bulk of the drugs recovered in the wave of raids targeting distribution networks.
The NDLEA said its broader offensive also reached suspects linked to trafficking rings in other states. Officials presented the arrests as evidence that drug dealing cuts across age groups and communities, with traffickers using ordinary homes to hide large consignments.
Marking World Drug Day
The raids coincide with a weeklong programme the NDLEA and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) unveiled ahead of the 2026 World Drug Day. The commemoration carries the theme focused on persisting issues, new challenges and innovative responses to the global drug problem.
The agency said the week began on June 19 and runs to June 26, featuring an anti-drug walk, a student essay competition, faith-based activities, civil society engagements and outreach for vulnerable youths. The events are concentrated in the Federal Capital Territory and culminate in Abuja.
A wider enforcement push
The NDLEA has reported a string of operations in 2026, including interceptions of opioid consignments and arrests of suspects accused of supplying both local and international markets. The agency says combining enforcement with prevention and rehabilitation is central to its strategy.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the agency said those arrested will be charged to court after investigation. Viorah TV reports the allegations as stated by the NDLEA and takes no position on the cases, which remain subject to due process.
Drug abuse remains a major public concern in Nigeria, with surveys pointing to high usage among young people. Officials argue that demand reduction, through counselling, treatment and awareness, must run alongside seizures and arrests if the trade is to shrink over time.
The NDLEA appealed to communities to share credible information and to support families struggling with addiction. It said the World Drug Day campaign aims to reduce stigma so that people who need help feel able to seek treatment rather than hide their condition.
