The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded multiple arrests and seizures across the country in its ongoing operations against drug trafficking, with illicit substances discovered hidden in items ranging from vehicle parts and cosmetics to footwear.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a consignment of cocaine and tramadol concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors destined for Libreville, Gabon.
“The first batch of the consignment consisting of 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.60kg was intercepted in a cargo going to Gabon on Air Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday 19th July,” said Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy.
A cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, was arrested in connection with the shipment. Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah, from whom eleven more parcels of cocaine were recovered at his residence. The total weight of cocaine seized rose to 2.60kg.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers arrested a businesswoman, Mrs. Nwafor Roseann Nneka, at her shop in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, following the discovery of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine concealed in lipsticks heading to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. “Mrs. Nwafor admitted she bought the lipsticks used to conceal the illicit drugs while her husband, who is currently on the run, handled the actual concealment,” Babafemi stated.
In Abuja, three dispatch riders—Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28)—were arrested during a stop-and-search operation in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas. Officers recovered 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud from them. On the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway, two other suspects, Aliyu Abubakar (25) and Adekunle Agbabiaka (30), were caught with 91.1kg of skunk.
In Lagos, Joseph Michael was picked up in Mushin with 3.3kg of Colorado, while Ibrahim Sulaiman was found with 16.5 litres of skuchies, a locally brewed drink mixed with drugs, in Iwaya, Yaba.
In Benue State, Hussein Yusuf (37) was arrested with 100,000 tramadol capsules on the Vandeikya-Ogoja road. In Edo, NDLEA raided a warehouse in Ekpoma and arrested William Alabi (44) with 233.5kg of skunk.
At the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri, 160 tramadol pills were found hidden in footwear. Umar Aminu (38) was arrested on arrival.
In Ogun, Yahaya Aminat Seyi was arrested with 7,218 pills of opioids. In Oyo, Oladeji Saka (54) was arrested in Ibadan with 77.5kg of skunk. In Delta, Benson Izah (40) was caught with a combination of 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine. In Kano, Bashir Gambo (30) was arrested in Yar Yasa, Tudun Wada Local Government Area, with 61kg of skunk.
Bayelsa officers arrested Chief Emeka Opara (52) and Onuoha Chidinma (25) in Amassoma with 41,705 tramadol capsules and other opioids. In Osun, Kabiru Ayinde (40) and Roqeeb Adekanmbi (25) were arrested in Iwo with 90kg of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus, and ₦228,200 cash.
The NDLEA also continued its outreach activities under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, targeting schools, religious centres, workplaces, and communities. Some of the locations visited include Ciroma Ibrahim Islamiyya School in Yobe; Sultan Maccido Institute in Sokoto; Borno Express Transport Services in Maiduguri; and Seventh Day Adventist Church in Enugu. The Osun Command also paid a visit to the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), in response to the ongoing operations, said: “I urge our officers to sustain the momentum through a balanced and strategic approach to drug control.”
