NDLEA Seizes Opioid Pills Worth ₦6.2 Billion At Lagos Airport

By Sherif Salau

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted large consignments of the amphetamine-based drug known as Captagon, along with millions of opioid pills, with a combined street value exceeding ₦6.2 billion at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.

A search of a carton labelled as ordinary Ghana soap revealed 47,200 Captagon pills carefully concealed inside blocks of the popular bathing soap. The hidden consignment alone is valued at more than ₦1.5 billion.

Captagon, an illicit amphetamine often referred to as the “Jihadi drug” because of its documented use in funding extremist activities in conflict zones, was first detected in Nigeria by the NDLEA in September 2021 at the Apapa Port in Lagos. Its reappearance at the country’s busiest international airport underscores the persistent efforts of trafficking networks to move the substance into and through Nigeria.

Following his arrest, Akinbile Kazeem Aikins, a 49 year old told investigators that he had been instructed to deliver the consignment to recipients in the northern part of the country. Agency officials are continuing inquiries to identify others who may be connected to the network.

The dual seizure of Captagon and large quantities of opioid pills highlights the evolving nature of drug trafficking through Lagos’s air and sea gateways. Authorities say the operation demonstrates both the ingenuity of smugglers and the determination of enforcement agencies to disrupt the flow of dangerous substances before they reach local markets or transit further afield.

As investigations proceed, the NDLEA has reiterated its commitment to intercepting illicit drugs at major entry points and bringing those involved to justice.