Felix Temitope, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled multiple drug trafficking syndicates across Nigeria, including one led by a Chinese national, 58-year-old Tianzhen Yen, alias "Jackie," in Lagos. This operation is part of a nationwide crackdown that resulted in significant drug seizures and arrests in the past week.
Chinese kingpin busted in Lagos
Tianzhen Yen, who ran a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, was arrested at his hotel in the Ikeja area of Lagos following intelligence operations. NDLEA operatives intercepted one of his couriers, 40-year-old Yakubu Emmanuel Mark, at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme expressway while traveling to Ghana. A search revealed 750 grams of cocaine concealed in his bag.
A subsequent follow-up operation led officers to Yen’s hideout at MC Hotel, behind Alade Market on Allen Avenue. During a search of his room, authorities recovered 4.3 grams of cocaine, one gram of methamphetamine, electronic weighing scales, and his Chinese National Identification Card. Yen was arrested in the vicinity of the hotel, marking a significant victory in disrupting international drug trafficking networks.
Arrest of businessman swallowing 90 wraps of cocaine
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Osuoha Christian Iheanacho, a 50-year-old businessman, at Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu. Osuoha was intercepted after arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. Following months of surveillance, he was placed under excretion observation, during which he egested 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.019 kilograms.
Investigations revealed that Osuoha, who operates a phone and accessories business in Lagos and Gabon, resorted to drug trafficking due to financial struggles. He had traveled from Gabon to Cameroon, then to Ethiopia, where he ingested the cocaine pellets before arriving in Nigeria.
Major seizures across ports
At Tincan and Onne Ports, NDLEA operatives intercepted drugs worth a combined ₦4.3 billion.
Tincan Port, Lagos: 92 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of synthetic cannabis weighing 23.25 kilograms, were found concealed in two vehicles imported from Canada.
Onne Port, Rivers State: Two containers of opioids were intercepted. One container held 168,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup valued at ₦1.17 billion, while the other contained 4.5 million tramadol pills (225mg), valued at ₦3.15 billion.
Lagos cocaine syndicate smashed
In another operation, NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit arrested Ndive Maxwell Obinna, a 42-year-old head of a cocaine distribution cartel, along with five associates in the Ago Palace Way area of Okota, Lagos. The team recovered 2.412 kilograms of cocaine. Arrested members included stash keeper Okeke Gloria Ifeoma and four accomplices: Ikechebelu Emmanuel Chibuzor, Okorie Onyedikachi, Okonkwo Nnabugo Prince, and Okafor Blessing Anita.
Widespread drug seizures nationwide
The NDLEA also seized large quantities of cannabis and other drugs during raids across states:
Ekiti: A 50-year-old physically challenged woman, Mustapha Boja, was arrested with 286 grams of Loud cannabis strains.
Edo: Over 1,200 kilograms of cannabis were seized in various operations.
Kano and Bauchi: Combined cannabis seizures amounted to over 200 kilograms, with multiple suspects arrested.
NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA)
The agency continued its sensitization efforts through the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign in schools, communities, and workplaces. Outreach programs were conducted in Katsina, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, and Ekiti states, among others, to educate the public about the dangers of drug abuse.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their dedication and balanced approach to reducing drug supply and demand. He emphasized that the operational successes underscore NDLEA’s commitment to eradicating drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria.
The agency’s relentless efforts reflect its resolve to dismantle organized drug networks and strengthen Nigeria's fight against drug-related crimes.
