The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of three suspected drug suppliers attempting to deliver consignments of illicit substances to terrorists and bandits operating across Borno and Yobe States. The arrests, carried out through coordinated intelligence and stop-and-search operations, mark another major step in the agency’s nationwide campaign to cut off drug supply chains that fuel insecurity in northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Sunday, September 28, 2025, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the operations followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance. The drugs were concealed in highly deceptive ways, including inside the engine compartment of a Mercedes Benz jeep and within the casing of a lady’s traveling bag, in an effort to evade detection.
One of the suspects, 26-year-old Baba Kaka Ibrahim, was arrested at Njimtilo village while driving a Mercedes Benz GLK towards the Damaturu road on Saturday, September 27. Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA officers conducted a thorough search of the vehicle and discovered 39,380 pills of tramadol 225mg and exol-5 concealed inside the engine compartment. The agency said such high-potency drugs are widely abused by terrorists and bandits, who rely on them to carry out violent attacks.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted a woman, Halima Adamu, along the Damaturu–Maiduguri highway in Yobe State. A search of her luggage led to the discovery of 39 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 1.4 kilograms, hidden within the casing of her traveling bag.
Further investigations and follow-up intelligence traced the consignment to another woman identified as Habiba Muhammad, who was subsequently arrested at Baga Road in Maiduguri, Borno State. NDLEA confirmed that Habiba was directly linked to the intercepted shipment, making her the third suspect apprehended in the coordinated crackdown.
The arrests highlight the increasingly sophisticated methods used by criminal networks to traffic drugs into conflict zones, where they are distributed to insurgents, bandits, and other violent groups. According to NDLEA, these substances not only generate illicit revenue for terror groups but also embolden fighters by impairing judgment, increasing aggression, and suppressing fatigue during attacks.
While disclosing the seizures, Babafemi reiterated that cutting off the flow of illicit drugs into conflict-ridden regions remains central to NDLEA’s mandate. He explained that the agency has intensified stop-and-search operations on highways leading into the North-East and North-West, regions that have been severely affected by insurgency, banditry, and other violent crimes.
The agency also urged communities to collaborate by sharing intelligence on suspicious movements. “Every pill taken off the road, every parcel intercepted, and every trafficker arrested means fewer drugs in the hands of terrorists and bandits who rely on them to sustain violence,” Babafemi said.
The development comes just days after NDLEA operatives in Lagos intercepted two major drug kingpins attempting to ship Europe-bound cocaine and heroin, underscoring the agency’s determination to dismantle trafficking networks both domestically and internationally. Analysts note that by disrupting supply lines, NDLEA is indirectly weakening the operational strength of insurgent and bandit groups that thrive on the availability of psychoactive substances.
Security experts have long drawn connections between drug trafficking and terrorism financing. Proceeds from illicit substances are often used to procure arms, while consumption of narcotics by fighters enhances their capacity for violence. The NDLEA’s latest success in Borno and Yobe is therefore being viewed not only as a public health measure but also as a direct contribution to Nigeria’s national security strategy.
The suspects—Baba Kaka Ibrahim, Halima Adamu, and Habiba Muhammad—are currently in custody and are expected to face prosecution once investigations are completed. NDLEA has assured the public that the cases will be pursued diligently to deter others who may be tempted to collaborate with criminal organizations.
The agency emphasized that while traffickers continue to evolve in their methods of concealment, its operatives remain equipped with both intelligence and technical expertise to detect such tricks. From vehicles with modified compartments to luggage with hidden casings, NDLEA said it is constantly training personnel and investing in detection technologies to stay ahead of traffickers.
For residents of Borno and Yobe, the arrests serve as a reminder of the complex interplay between drugs and insecurity in the region. While the government intensifies military operations against insurgents, parallel efforts by NDLEA to choke off their drug supply are gradually reshaping the battlefield in favor of state forces.
