The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered three illicit drug warehouses concealed within a residential estate in Lagos, seizing narcotics valued at about ₦16.9 billion.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency disclosed that the operation led to the recovery of 2,360,000 pills of high-potency tramadol (225mg) and 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup.
The NDLEA said the intelligence-led raid was carried out on Friday, April 17, 2026, at two locations — 98 Olukayode Awofisayo Street and 5 Charles Ndumetu Street — both within Park View Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, where the warehouses were uncovered.
According to the agency, the seized items included 19,094 cartons containing 1,909,400 bottles of codeine syrup, as well as 34 cartons of tramadol tablets hidden within the estate.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Marwa, described the operation as a major breakthrough in disrupting drug trafficking networks operating within residential communities.
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“The scale of this recovery, nearly 4.3 million units of lethal substances, shows that our officers are staying several steps ahead of these merchants of death,” he said.
Marwa noted that the concealment of such large quantities in residential areas highlights both the tactics of drug cartels and the effectiveness of the agency’s intelligence capabilities.
“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 underscores the strength of our intelligence operations,” he added.
He warned that there would be no safe haven for drug traffickers, stressing that the agency remains committed to dismantling drug networks across the country.
“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 said.
The agency added that the operation is part of its ongoing nationwide efforts to curb illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse.
