The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol 225mg concealed in 71 vehicles’ side mirrors being sent to Libreville and Gabon through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
A statement signed by Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson of the agency, on Sunday said that not less than three suspects linked to the cargo have been arrested in follow-up operations.
It noted that the first batch of the consignment, which consists of 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of Cocaine weighing 1.60kg, was seized in a cargo going to Gabon on Air Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday, 19th July 2025.
The agency said Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, the cargo agent handling the shipment, was apprehended while a further investigation led to the arrest of Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah on Sunday, July 20th.
According to the statement, “Eleven parcels of cocaine, which weigh 1kg, were later recovered from four additional side mirrors being prepared for export, found in the home of Uzochukwu on Monday 21st July, bringing the total number of parcels of cocaine to 68 weighing 2.60 kilograms.
“In a related development, NDLEA operatives on Friday 1st August arrested a businesswoman Mrs. Nwafor Roseann Nneka at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos following the interception of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine, a cutting agent, concealed in ladies’ lipsticks going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, through the export shed of the Lagos airport on 10th July 2025.
“Two cargo agents linked to the shipment were earlier arrested before the eventual arrest of Nneka who runs the criminal trade as a family business with her husband Remigus Nwafor, currently on the run. In her statement, Mrs. Nwafor admitted she bought the lipsticks used to conceal the illicit drugs while her husband handled the actual concealment.”
It revealed that stop and search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas of the FCT led to the arrest of five dispatch riders.
“In Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives conducting intelligence-led stop and search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas of the FCT on Wednesday 30th July arrested three dispatch riders: Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28, for distributing illicit substances around the city.
“A total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, were recovered from them. Two other suspects: Aliyu Abubakar, 25; and Adekunle Agbabiaka, 30, were arrested along Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, on Saturday 2nd August.”
The statement noted that Joseph Michael with 3.3 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis in Mushin, Lagos state, while Ibrahim Sulaiman was nabbed in Iwaya area of Yaba with 16.5 litres of
skuchies.
Another two suspects: Kabiru Ayinde, 40; and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were arrested on Monday, 28th of July =at Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town, Osun state, where 90kg skunk, 36.3grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus marked SMK 755 YF, and ₦228,200.00 cash exhibit were recovered from them.
Other arrests were made in Benue, Edo, Borno, Ogun, Oyo, Bayelsa, Kano, and Delta states.
NDLEA advanced its sensitisation activities to schools, worship, workplaces and communities.
“In like manner, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities, among others, in the past week.
“These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ciroma Ibrahim Islamiyya School, Potiskum, Yobe; Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’an and General Studies, Wamakko, Sokoto; metro drivers of Borno Express Transport Services, Maiduguri, Borno state; and worshippers at Seventh Day Adventist Church, Abakpa Nike, Enugu state, while the Osun State command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to Oluwo of Iwo land, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi.
Buba Marwa, the chairman of NDLEA commended the efforts of officers in combating illicit drugs and substance in the country.
He further commended the efforts of NDLEA operatives at the MMIA, MBIAM, FCT, Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Benue, Kano and Osun Commands for the arrests and seizures.
