Cynthia once had a promising life, but things changed in 2018 when a friend introduced her to drugs while in her final year studying Accounting at a university in Cotonou, the capital of Benin Republic. Since then, her life has never been the same.

Seven years later, at 29, Cynthia, who has worked as a banker for three years in Kano and later as a staff of a construction company in Kaduna, now lives with regret. Drug addiction has consumed her life and forced her into selling two cars and a laptop and later forfeiting her high-paying job.

?I don?t want this life; it is currently affecting my new job in Lagos,? a sober Cynthia told our reporter. Found within the suburb of Lungun Gurguwa, around Lagos Street in Garki, which has been notorious for many vices, including drug dealings, Cynthia explained that she had travelled to Abuja while on leave to ?cool off.? ?If I don?t take drugs, I could strip. I don?t like the way my life is going,? she said, explaining her body?s reaction to withdrawal from drugs.

Cynthia?s story is a familiar one among many young addicts living around Lungun Gurguwa. Like her, many of the addicts who spoke to Weekend Trust, expressed deep regret over their choices. But it is not one they can readily quit. Addiction has them trapped in a circle that many find unable to break without professional help.

2018 survey conducted by the United Nations (UN) Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that drug use is prevalent among an estimated 14.4 per cent of Nigerians, much higher than the global average of 5.6 per cent. Young minds like Cynthia have become the cash cow sustaining this multi-billion-dollar global drug industry.

Beneath Abuja?s sophistication, clear streetlights and security might, a dark and clandestine drug operation festers, and many times exchanged and transported in broad daylight, and in some cases, a few meters from law enforcement authorities. At night, dealers hawk narcotics freely to approaching individuals and offer discreet business deals or deliveries right to their doorsteps.

Upon embarking on this investigation, a survey was conducted to identify drug-dealing hotspots in Nigeria?s capital city. Respondents pointed to Area 1 in Garki, a central part of the city. Many mentioned a hill popularly known as Tora-Bora or Saman Tudu, a Hausa phrase that explains Tora-Bora?s hilly nature.

The area, which overlooks what is known as the Transformer junction of Area 1, has been identified as Abuja?s major drug hub. Another notorious area is Wuse 2, where drug dealers approach prospective clients and offer various delivery methods.

Not far from the headquarters of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office of the Nigeria Police Force and about a kilometre away from the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), one of the country?s top security surveillance agencies, a hidden nexus of narcotics trade thrives on a hill called Tora-Bora, with dealers openly conducting their businesses amidst bustling streets and daily life.

Our reporter, with the help of a fixer, climbed up the hill along the Murtala Muhammad expressway in Garki district. At the top of the hill, three stern men stood as gatekeepers with suspicious gazes. The fixer, who remained undercover, was no stranger to the den, having visited multiple times as a regular customer to buy drugs.

However, as he tried to remain calm, the name of his usual supplier escaped him, creating a tense atmosphere. While contemplating whether to turn back, a figure emerged from below the hill and coincidentally turned out to be the intended supplier.

Known by his street name, ?Babban Yaro,? the supplier ushered our reporter and the fixer into a wide space of land with three collapsed buildings and containers. Babban Yaro appeared young, but sources said he was ranked among the top drug dealers of Tora-Bora.

Weekend Trust sighted several drug joints, belonging to teenagers and adults, including women in their numbers. While some slept, others found solace in smoking and hawking, while those highly intoxicated vomited in the open.

Babban Yaro called one of his boys, and he was handed a bottle of Codeine, one of the items on this reporter?s list. The 100ml bottle of Barcadin ? a cough syrup banned by the Nigerian government in 2018 ? was sold to this undercover reporter. More illicit drugs, including Colos, Loud, and Rohypnol, were later purchased at the den.

Though sources had earlier told Weekend Trust that the location offered everything from opioids to cocaine, it was difficult to lay eyes on many items concealed in sacks without raising suspicions.

With the purchase of these items at Tora-Bora, this reporter and the fixer moved deeper into the den to meet a dealer known as ?Doctor,? who was said to be one of the top figures in the drug trade. Unfortunately, his boys, who were surrounded by three bags visibly filled with drugs, said he was unavailable.

Not only Tora-Bora

At ?Lungun Gurguwa?, a young man under the influence of drugs drew attention. Alex (not his real name), a recovering addict, told this reporter that the man who could not stand on his feet was high on Colos. As he lay on the ground, foam of saliva ran down his lips, and he began to vomit, to the laughter of many onlookers, who chanted ?on Colos.?

Lungun Gurguwa, a suburb around Lagos Street in Garki, is one of the major drug hubs in Abuja, with mostly drugs such as Colos, Loud and Crack Cocaine popularly called CK. ?The demand for these drugs is high, and dealers easily provide them,? said Alex, who was once a drug supplier.

?Many of these cars you see here are for customers; some are big dealers coming to deliver to their boys,? Alex said, pointing at many cars parked in the area.

Despite the presence of a police station about 100 meters away, Weekend Trust observed that more drug buyers and sellers trooped into the area. Between 9pm and 11pm, the area became busier with more dealings and bolder clients.

Most rampant among the drugs bought and sold were Marijuana, Colos, Loud and CK. Many drug addicts told Weekend Trust that a sip of ?Colos? could knock them down. In some areas, cocaine is referred to as ?Coke,? Alex said, adding that average addicts who cannot afford cocaine go for crack cocaine. ?It is a free base form of the stimulant cocaine,? he explained.

Alex described CK as small, chunky crystals that look like ice and are generally smoked, but sometimes swallowed or snorted like cocaine. An addict at Lungun Gurguwa smoked it, and seconds later, he was forced to sit down due to its effect.

The stimulant drug is said to speed up messages travelling between the brain and the body, according to a 2025 research published by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, an Australian leading organisation aimed at preventing and minimising the harm caused by alcohol and other drugs.

Wuse 2

A tip-off revealed Wuse 2, a district known for bustling streets and large shopping malls, as another hotspot for night time drug dealings in Abuja.

Disguised as buyers, the Weekend Trust team visited the area. However, four young men approached as the car slowed down, inquiring about purchases. A brief observation revealed this to be their usual practice.

A Drug Use Survey conducted by the UNODC in 2019 states that in Nigeria, substances like cannabis, tramadol, codeine and cocaine are commonly abused. It rates cannabis as the most prevalent and often used by the youth, while codeine, found in cough syrups, as well as tramadol and other opioids, are misused for their pain-relieving effects.

However, in Wuse 2, Colos, a variant of Ghana Loud, and Ice appear to be in high demand. This reporter easily purchased Colos and Ice from dealers, with prices proving eye-opening. Even a tiny portion costs at least N5,000 and above. Asked about cocaine, they confirmed its availability and assured it could be delivered on request. They casually detailed their operations, explaining that trusted drivers handled deliveries to any location.

?You go just need to place order. Collect my number, just hala me anytime. I dey deliver packages to many girls in estates in Abuja, and nothing go happen, no problem. We even get better drivers wey fit carry to your location, or I go bring am myself,? one of the young men revealed in Pidgin English.

Specifically, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, around Wuse 2, remained busier from 11pm, with more customers arriving and engaging in drug transactions.

In an attempt to test how easily a customer could place an order and receive a doorstep delivery, our reporter tried to follow up with the offer made by one of the dealers. However, his phone remained unreachable for over 48 hours. When contact was finally established, his tone was cautious, and he swiftly switched off his phone.

Area 1

Tucked behind a motor park commonly referred to as Gwagwalada Park, Area 1 has become a haven for drug peddlers and illicit activities.

Guided by Alex, a former peddler who still maintains close ties with many acquaintances from his past, this reporter visited the notorious drug den. It was already evening, with many people going about their daily activities. While approaching, Alex pointed to an unfinished building tucked among several roadside kiosks and explained that the structures served as hideouts and storage spots for drug peddlers.

From a distance, over 50 individuals could be seen openly smoking various substances. Despite the scene, the area carried the ambience of a typical, bustling corner of the city, surrounded by everyday shops and businesses, such as women frying akara and selling various food items.

But Alex explained that for those who know where to look, Area 1 remains the place to find any form of drug, especially late at night. He introduced this reporter to a well-known dealer with influence over many street-level sellers and access to the inner circle. The dealer, called ?Uncle,? was told that this reporter was a potential investor looking to commit over N10 million into the trade. This was, however, on the condition of viewing a substantial sample of crack cocaine. Uncle promptly instructed one of his boys to fetch a gram of CK, which was offered at a street price of N25, 000. He explained that the high cost of CK was largely due to transportation expenses, saying a non-negotiable waybill fee of N6, 000 is being paid on each gram of CK transported from Lagos to Abuja.

There were many cubicles there, where peddlers such as Uncle used as homes and hideouts. In his room, Uncle walked our reporter through drug sales and the measurements. He explained that when sold in small quantities to individual users, one could make a profit of up to N20,000 from a single gram of CK.

Alleged diversion of seized narcotics

A repentant drug dealer, who, for the sake of anonymity, would be called Baba, started his journey in the drug trade as a small-time hustler in Abuja in 2007. He had invested hugely in the business, expanded his reach and began handling deliveries. However, he stopped dealing around 2018 when, according to him, authorities under the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration became more proactive about cracking down the drug trade.

Since then, Baba claimed he turned his life around, returned to school and now runs a chemist shop. He, however, said drug trade in Abuja would continue to thrive, mainly due to the deep network between dealers.

Baba alleged that in the past, some National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives had collaborated with dealers to release seized or impounded drugs, adding that these drugs, pencilled down for destruction, were resold in the illicit market. ?Some officials resell the confiscated goods to the dealers, making them available for resale,? he alleged.

Although this newspaper could not independently verify Baba?s allegations, the spokesperson of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, dismissed them, calling them baseless. Babafemi explained that the agency operated a multi-layered security protocol for handling drug exhibits.

?No single officer has sole access to our exhibit stores. Access requires multiple authorisations, and any officer caught tampering with seized substances faces immediate dismissal and prosecution. We have zero tolerance for corruption within our ranks,? he said.

On the persistence of drug trafficking despite NDLEA?s enforcement efforts, Babafemi pointed to several challenges, including financial incentives for traffickers, legal hurdles in securing convictions, and attacks on officers.

?Street-level drug peddlers often discard evidence before arrest, making prosecution difficult. Our operatives also face threats, with some being attacked or killed during operations,? he explained.

Beyond enforcements, he highlighted NDLEA?s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, which focuses on preventive measures, such as public sensitisation, school campaigns and collaboration with religious and community leaders.

How drugs are transported within and outside Abuja

Members of the vigilante group, who often patrol the city in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, often seize drugs and hand over suspects to law enforcement agents. Ibrahim Yusuf Gashinbaki, the Deputy Senior Provost of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Federal Capital Territory, said the group assisted the NDLEA in checking drug-related menace.

Gashinbaki, however, expressed disappointment that many drug dealers arrested were later released, and oftentimes returned to crime. He alleged that one of the easiest ways drugs are transported within the city was through the use of motor bikes; many of whom he said had been arrested for drug trafficking.

Section 11(d) of the NDLEA Act stipulates a ban on public consumption of narcotics, with violators facing heavy fines and imprisonment. The 1989 NDLEA Act also mandates strict penalties for the possession, trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs.

It prescribes not less than 15 to 25 years imprisonment for possession of narcotics, such as cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and codeine, and even life imprisonment or death for trafficking or dealing in large quantities. But the National Assembly, in November 2024, passed a harmonised version of the bill, which replaced the death penalty with life imprisonment for offenders.

In the amended bill, which awaits President Bola Tinubu?s assent, a new sub-section 4 is added to section 46, which proposes that: ?The agency shall retain a portion of the proceeds of forfeited assets from drug-related cases for use in its operations.?

But despite these, Gashinbaki alleged that many of the arrested bike traffickers escaped justice. ?These bike riders you see moving around are mostly involved; they are responsible for the rapid movement of drugs across the city, but people may not know. We have arrested several riders over the years, but time and time again, these individuals manage to get freed,? Gashinbaki alleged.

The high-ranking vigilante member showed our reporter videos of their arrests and revealed that many of the bike traffickers work within a network that helps them evade arrest.

?No matter the pressure, they would rather face a jail term or death sentence than betray their suppliers,? a baffled Gashinbaki said of the confidentiality that drives the drug supply chain.

Returning to Tora-Bora

Determined to return to Tora-Bora after learning that the area comes alive with sparkling activities at night, this reporter and a fixer returned to the hill on a Tuesday night in March. Upon arrival, at 9:30pm, a man referred to as Jamilu, said to be the chairman, was present.

The fixer explained that Jamilu oversaw the collection of daily returns from the drug businesses at Tora-Bora. Each dealer contributed between N5,000 and N10,000 daily, depending on their market size, he explained.

What seemed like a quiet, hidden spot by day came alive during the visit. Dealers exchanged goods in the shadows, their faces barely illuminated by dim lights. The operations were far more intense at night.

The fixer introduced this reporter as a new ?business interest? to a dealer called Iro. he was told that the reporter was trying to move drugs from Abuja to other states without attracting the attention of the authorities. Without hesitation, Iro explained that one of the easiest methods was to rely on interstate park drivers. He specifically mentioned the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano and Abuja-Nasarawa routes as the most common and discreet.

The trick, he said, was simple: ?You hand over your package to the driver and they will deliver it without raising suspicion. Authorities rarely check the drivers, even when there are roadblocks or NDLEA officials on the highways.?

These drivers, Iro claimed, were trusted. He mentioned those around Garki motor parks and Area 1, adding that the drivers were often not the targets of the NDLEA, making the likelihood of interception minimal.

Gashinbaki, the vice commandant of the FCT vigilante, corroborated this. He said interstate drivers played a crucial role in the supply chain, moving drugs with relative ease under the radar of law enforcement.

However, while boasting about their activities at Tora-Bora, Iro invited this reporter to set up a drug spot as long as he settled with the chairman, whom he said influenced the authorities. Another dealer sitting next to Iro chipped in: ?The returns we usually gather daily are to settle officials, so they will not disturb us.?

Leaving the Tora-Bora hill that night, one of the drug users remarked: ?See the NDLEA container there.? A close inspection showed no definitive sign of security officials around the container. Moving further, another container came into view, which the drug dealers said belonged to the police. Both containers, according to dealers at Tora-Bora, were set up for surveillance, but there was no official at sight.

Interstate drivers become more cautious

To test Iro?s allegations on the use of interstate drivers, this reporter visited the Area 1 car park, posing as someone intending to send a package outside the city. Ground cassava, locally known as ?garri?, was wrapped in a nylon to mimic an illicit drug. However, all the commercial drivers operating the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano route firmly declined the request to transport the package.

The drivers expressed concern over what they described as ?increased vigilance by security operatives at checkpoints,? noting that the risk was high.

?Security personnel are very thorough at the checkpoints these days, and I wouldn?t want to get into trouble over a small waybill fee. Our friend is still locked up, and even N2 million couldn?t bail him out,? said one of the drivers.

When Weekend Trust reporter reached out again to Iro, he said: ?The drivers will only agree to help if I connect you to them. They won?t take anything from just anyone, they are afraid of being set up.?

But ?Uncle,? a known dealer in Area 1, offered some advice to this reporter: ?The safest way to move drugs these days is to wrap them in nylon, coat them with olive oil, and hide them in your body, preferably the private part area. Security agents won?t go as far as asking someone to undress during a search.?

Police react

The police public relations officer, FCT command, SP Josephine Adeh, assured that the command was working in collaboration with relevant authorities to curb drug trafficking within the territory.

Responding to concerns about the proximity of police stations to areas where drug dealings operate openly, she said the Force had identified several hotspots and aggressively working to dismantle drug cartels operating within them.

She dismissed claims that the police turned a blind eye to illicit activities, stressing that numerous arrests have been made. ?Many drug dealers were apprehended and handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution. Once we raid and dislodge them from a particular area, they simply relocate and resume operations elsewhere,? she said.

FCT NDLEA arrests 1,819 suspects in 3 years

Speaking to Weekend Trust, the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that between 2022 and February 2025, the FCT command arrested 1,819 suspects, comprising 1,738 men and 81 women. Within the same period, he said the agency seized 33,510.3 kilograms of illicit drugs, along with 293.1 litres of codeine syrup. Additionally, the command secured 529 convictions within the last three years.

Despite NDLEA?s enforcement strategy and repeated crackdowns, Babafemi noted that drug dealers often regrouped to resume operations. ?Our officers have conducted several successful raids, but the challenge remains that once we dislodge one drug hub, another emerges elsewhere,? he said.

While debunking any form of compromise among NDLEA officials, Babafemi stressed that dens were raided regularly. ?Drug syndicates often take advantage of Abuja?s strategic location and population, but we are intensifying efforts to disrupt their activities,? he said.

He identified several key drug hotspots across the FCT, including Area 1 and Tora-Bora as notorious drug-dealing points. He also mentioned Gwarinpa, Mabushi, Wuse, Karu, Dei-Dei, and Jabi, which he said were constantly being raided. (Weekend Trust)

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