The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a shipment of 23 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 11.3kg, concealed inside microwaves imported from Thailand. The illicit consignment, which arrived via Ethiopian Airlines from Bangkok through Addis Ababa, was seized at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Monday, July 7, following credible intelligence.
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrest of Ezenwegbu Chike, the suspect linked to the drug-laced cargo.
“Based on intelligence, a consolidated cargo was searched, and 23 parcels of Loud concealed in new microwaves were recovered,” Babafemi said.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives at the airport’s export shed intercepted 400 grams of cocaine and phenacetine ingeniously hidden inside female lipsticks destined for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The items were part of a cargo containing cosmetics such as hair attachments and face powder.
This comes just a week after the agency seized 420 grams of cocaine similarly concealed in 84 lipsticks headed to the UK.
Ezeikwelume Prince Afam, a businessman based at Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, was arrested on Friday, July 11, in connection with the seizure.
NDLEA operatives also arrested Okechukwu Izugha, a notorious drug trafficker who had been on the run since August 2024. He was apprehended on Wednesday, July 9, at his wife’s shop in Ijesha Market, Lagos.
His arrest follows the seizure of 9kg of cocaine in August 2024 linked to him and the conviction of his wife, Maureen Izugha, who was caught with 500 grams of cocaine in January 2025 and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed over 28,000kg of cannabis on three farms spanning 11 hectares in the Ewere Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA. They also recovered 82kg of processed cannabis. Armed attackers attempted to ambush officers during the operation, but the assault was repelled. One operational vehicle was damaged.
In Lagos, officers intercepted 1,400 blocks of Ghana Loud cannabis weighing 700kg at Okun-Ajah Beach. Two suspects, Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul, were arrested, and a Ford delivery truck was seized. Further raids in the state yielded 26kg of cannabis, 123g of methamphetamine, 45g of Molly, and another vehicle.
In Borno, NDLEA arrested Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi, 42, with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine, tramadol, and rohypnol at Njimtilo, Maiduguri. Earlier, Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu, 34, was caught with 10,000 tramadol pills.
In Gombe State, five suspects — Hafiz Bello (22), Isah Suleman (48), Kabiru Muhammed (30), Abdullahi Adamu (30), and Abel Murna (25) — were arrested with a combined 116,226 pills of tramadol and D5 at the Gombe main market and Gombe-Kano Road.
Meanwhile, in Kogi, NDLEA arrested Sabiu Bala with 316.6kg of skunk along the Okene-Lokoja Expressway on July 10. In Kaduna, Haladu Suleiman, 38, was apprehended with 58.8kg of skunk in the Gubuchi area of Ikara LGA.
