NDLEA Arrests 985 Suspects, Seizes 5.7 Tonnes of Drugs in Kwara

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kwara State Command, has been busy in the past year. Fatima Popoola, the State Commandant, revealed that operatives arrested no fewer than 985 suspected drug traffickers and users in the State. This number is alarming. The agency seized over 5.7 tonnes of illicit substances, preventing large quantities of dangerous substances from getting into communities across the state.

Fatima Popoola is known for her no-nonsense approach to fighting drug trafficking in Kwara State. As the State Commandant, she has been working tirelessly to clamp down on drug barons and users. She has been with the NDLEA for over a decade and has earned a reputation as one of the most effective commanders in the agency.

The seizures were made between June 2025 and June 2026, a period that saw significant operations by the NDLEA in the state. Popoola attributed the success to the strategic location of Kwara State, which serves as a bridge between the North and the South. This location has unfortunately made the state a transit hub for drug trafficking activities.

Kwara State is one of Nigeria's major transit routes for drug trafficking, and the NDLEA has been working hard to disrupt this trade. The agency has been using patrol operations to catch drug traffickers in the act, and the Ogbomosho-Jebba corridor has been a hotspot for these operations.

In one notable operation, the NDLEA intercepted a luxury sports utility vehicle conveying hundreds of kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in hidden compartments. The vehicle was a brand-new V8 Jeep carrying a Federal Government registration plate, and some of the drugs were even hidden beneath the seats.

The NDLEA has also been working on prevention and rehabilitation. Popoola revealed that 29 drug-dependent persons were admitted into the command's rehabilitation facility during the review period, and 28 successfully completed treatment and reintegrated into society. Furthermore, 213 drug users received brief intervention services, and our officers carried out extensive sensitisation campaigns in schools and communities across the state.

The Kwara State Government has also been doing its part in the fight against drug trafficking. The government introduced drug integrity tests for students and newly recruited teachers, and over 10,000 students have undergone the test while approximately 2,000 newly recruited teachers were screened.

The NDLEA has also expressed concern over the increasing circulation of synthetic and highly potent narcotics in Kwara State. Popoola warned that traffickers are constantly adopting new methods to evade law enforcement, and the agency is working to stay ahead of them.

The recent seizure of Captagon, a powerful stimulant linked to criminal and terrorist activities in several countries, was one of the most significant arrests in recent times. The NDLEA intercepted this drug on transit along the Ogbomosho-Jebba highway, and Popoola described it as a dangerous stimulant often associated with terrorists and organised criminal groups.

The agency has also raised concerns over the growing role of technology in drug trafficking. Popoola revealed that criminal syndicates now utilise online platforms and digital channels to market and distribute illicit substances. There was a case involving some students of a tertiary institution in Kwara who allegedly baked cannabis into cakes and sold them online.

Captagon is a stimulant often associated with terrorists and organised criminal groups.

The NDLEA is committed to staying ahead of drug traffickers, and Popoola is leading the charge in Kwara State.

The NDLEA is working hard to disrupt the flow of illicit substances in Kwara State. With the seizure of 5.7 tonnes of drugs and the arrest of 985 suspected traffickers, the agency is making significant progress in the fight against drug trafficking.