Troops of the Nigerian Army, working alongside operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested five suspected drug peddlers during a security operation in Delta State.
The suspects were apprehended in Ugberukoko Community, Sapele Local Government Area, following intelligence received by security authorities regarding alleged illicit drug activities in the area.
According to a security report, the operation was carried out by troops of the 90 Amphibious Battalion in collaboration with personnel of the NDLEA.
The joint team reportedly conducted a cordon-and-search operation in the community at about 10:10 p.m. on September 4, 2026.
Five suspects arrested in Sapele
The operation was said to have been launched after security personnel received human intelligence concerning suspected drug peddling activities around the Sapele general area.
Acting on the information, the troops and NDLEA personnel moved into the identified location and carried out a search operation.
Five individuals suspected of being involved in the illegal distribution of drugs were subsequently arrested during the exercise.
Security personnel also recovered six bottles of a substance suspected to be codeine from the suspects.
The recovered items were taken into custody as exhibits while the suspects were detained for further investigation.
Suspects handed over for investigation
Following the arrests, the suspects and the recovered substances were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and necessary action.
The development highlights the continued cooperation between the Nigerian military and the NDLEA in tackling the circulation of illicit and controlled substances across communities in Delta State.
Drug-related activities remain a major concern for security and law enforcement agencies because of their potential connection to other forms of criminality.
Authorities have therefore continued to rely on intelligence gathering, targeted raids and joint operations to identify locations where illegal drugs are allegedly stored, distributed or sold.
Operation follows intelligence gathering
The latest arrests also demonstrate the role of information from members of the public and other intelligence sources in security operations.
Rather than conducting random searches, the security team reportedly acted on information concerning alleged drug peddling activities in the Sapele area before moving into Ugberukoko Community.
Such intelligence-led operations allow security agencies to focus their resources on locations and individuals suspected of being involved in criminal activities.
The arrest of the five suspects is expected to enable investigators to establish the source of the suspected codeine and determine whether the suspects are connected to a wider drug distribution network.
Further details about the identities of the suspects and the outcome of the investigation were not immediately disclosed.
Security agencies intensify crackdown on illicit drugs
The operation comes amid continued efforts by security agencies to tackle drug abuse and trafficking in different parts of Nigeria.
The NDLEA has maintained operations against individuals and groups suspected of participating in the illegal drug trade, while military formations have increasingly collaborated with the agency during security operations.
Delta State has also witnessed previous joint security operations targeting suspected drug dealers and other criminal activities.
In March 2026, troops and NDLEA personnel reportedly arrested seven suspected drug peddlers during raids on suspected drug locations in parts of Warri, with assorted substances suspected to be illicit drugs recovered.
The repeated operations indicate that security agencies are continuing to place attention on drug-related activities in the state as part of broader efforts to improve security.
What happens next?
The five suspects are expected to remain subject to further investigation by the relevant authorities.
Investigators may seek to determine how the suspected substances were obtained, whether the suspects were operating individually or as part of a larger network, and whether additional persons are connected to the alleged activities.
The recovered bottles of the substance suspected to be codeine will also form part of the exhibits available to investigators.
Authorities are expected to take further action based on the outcome of the investigation and applicable laws.
The latest operation underscores the importance of continued collaboration between the military, the NDLEA and local communities in the fight against illicit drug activities.
Residents of Sapele and surrounding communities are also encouraged to provide credible information to security agencies whenever they notice suspicious activities in their areas.
The arrest of the five suspected drug peddlers is part of the ongoing security efforts aimed at disrupting the distribution of illicit substances and addressing criminal activities in Delta State.
NaijaMixed will continue to monitor the development and bring readers further updates if more information is released by the authorities.
