The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Mexican national and four other suspects during a major operation on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in Ibarapa area of Oyo State, recovering illicit substances estimated to be worth billions of naira.
The agency said the operation forms part of its ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks and curb the production and distribution of illicit substances across the country. The suspects were apprehended following intelligence-led investigations that uncovered activities linked to a large-scale drug operation.
The development has generated widespread reactions among residents and stakeholders in Ibarapa, with many commending the agency for intensifying its crackdown on criminal networks operating within local communities.
The seizure is considered one of the significant anti-narcotics operations carried out in Nigeria in recent times, showcasing growing concerns about the infiltration of foreign-linked criminal syndicates into parts of the country.
Authorities are expected to continue investigations to determine the full extent of the operation, including possible local and international connections, while the suspects will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Community advocates who spoke with Peoples Conscience on Wednesday alleged that the land linked to the operation belongs to Ayete, the headquarters of Ibarapa North Local Government Area and not Tapa Community, as had been reported in some quarters and by NDLEA. They urged members of the public and media organisations to verify geographical details before publishing reports in order to avoid unfairly associating innocent communities with criminal activities.
Meanwhile, a group identified as Concerned Citizens of Tapa Community issued a statement addressed to the NDLEA, saying: “The land which was recently reported as having been busted by your agency does not belong to the Tapa Community. Rather, the land is situated within Ayete Community. This clarification is not intended to cast aspersions on the good people of Ayete. Instead, it is necessary to protect the integrity and reputation of the people of Tapa, who had no involvement whatsoever in the sale, lease, or any transaction relating to the land allegedly linked to the Mexican nationals. We respectfully urge the public and relevant authorities to ensure accuracy in identifying the location involved, so that innocent communities are not unfairly associated with activities in which they played no part,” the rejoinder partly read.
0 Comments