Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a wide range of illicit drug consignments and arrested several individuals in operations carried out across Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Taraba, Cross River, Osun, and other states.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers uncovered an unusual concealment tactic involving cocaine hidden inside lipstick tubes and property documents destined for the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively.
According to a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, the seizure was made on Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, by officers attached to the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) at a courier company in Lagos.
“A total of 420 grams of cocaine factory-fitted into 84 pieces of female lipsticks heading to the UK were seized, while 280 grams of the same Class A drug were uncovered in a Certificate of Occupancy being sent to Saudi Arabia,” Babafemi said.
In another case, a drug kingpin, Ajetsibo Emami, popularly known as Warri Kinsman, was arrested on Saturday, June 28th, in Ikeja after a three-day operation by NDLEA operatives.
“From Emami’s network, operatives recovered 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 414.2 kilograms,” the statement revealed.
A separate operation targeted a family involved in drug trafficking. A Lagos businessman, Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife, Rosemary, and their daughters were arrested for running what NDLEA called a major drug distribution network from their home.
The couple was first arrested by DSS operatives with 277.5kg of cannabis and later handed over to NDLEA. A follow-up raid on Tuesday, July 1st, led to the discovery of another 231kg. Their daughters, Ngozi and Blessing, and a family friend were caught managing the operation during their absence.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport, NDLEA officers intercepted Aburemi Hysent, a frequent traveler to Italy, with 7,660 pills of tramadol concealed in food items. “He claimed he was to be paid 800 euros upon successful delivery of the drug consignment in Italy,” Babafemi disclosed.
Also at the airport, officers discovered 52 suspected fake travellers cheques amounting to 17.7 million Australian dollars concealed in children’s books. The consignment, bound for Malaysia via Turkish Airlines on Friday, July 4th, was linked to a freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed, who was arrested and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
In Seme, Badagry, NDLEA recovered 718 big balls of skunk weighing 359kg. Along the Okene-Lokoja highway, officers seized 10,000 pills of tramadol and 1.05kg of Colorado. These interceptions led to arrests in Abuja, including Chinedu Odo, Samuel Ogbonna, and Kingsley Ugaji.
In Osun State, several operations led to the arrest of drug dealers and the seizure of thousands of pills of opioids across Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Akindeko Junction. A significant discovery was made in Oke-Ila forest, where 24,175kg of skunk were found on 9.67 hectares of cannabis farmland, and seven suspects were apprehended.
Other seizures recorded during the week include 167kg of skunk in Gamboru-Ngala, Borno State; 452kg of the substance along the Zaria-Kano road, where two suspects were arrested; and 11,000 pills of tramadol recovered along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.
In Sokoto, a 62-year-old man, Joseph Onungene, was arrested with 4,800 pills. Kebbi State saw the confiscation of 312kg of skunk and 10,000 diazepam tablets. In Taraba, nearly 50,000 capsules of tramadol were found in possession of two suspects.
In Edo State, a raid in Owan West Local Government Area led to the arrest of a wanted suspect and the recovery of over 100kg of processed skunk.
One of the more surprising arrests came from Cross River, where 78-year-old Mike Abeng was arrested in Ofudua, Obubra LGA, with 14.49kg of skunk and tramadol. Three others were taken into custody during the same operation.
Babafemi noted that the agency’s awareness campaign on drug abuse reached schools and communities in Enugu, Lagos, Katsina, and Borno States, with educational lectures delivered in various secondary schools and neighborhoods.
While commenting on the operations, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) expressed his appreciation for the officers’ efforts.
“Their commitment continues to dismantle drug trafficking networks while enlightening the public on the dangers of substance abuse. The seizures and arrests of the past week are a testament to their relentless effort,” Babafemi quoted the NDLEA chief as saying.
