Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a drug shipment disguised as packages of plantain chips at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday.
“Narco-trend update: This consignment was packaged as plantain chips, but inside was skunk,” Babafemi posted on X (formerly Twitter), crediting vigilant NDLEA officers for the bust. He also urged Nigerians to be cautious when accepting items to carry while travelling: “Always be careful of what you’re given to travel with.”
In a separate operation, the NDLEA arrested two Nigerians and two British nationals linked to a massive drug trafficking attempt involving six million opioid pills—Tamol 225mg, Tapentadol 225mg, and Carisoprodol 225mg—as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, with a combined street value of ₦6.52 billion.
The seizures were made at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, and Apapa Seaport in Lagos, following intelligence that uncovered new smuggling routes used by drug cartels. The agency had flagged the containers for 100% inspection.
At Onne Port, officers discovered six million pills of opioids and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup during a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on May 19 and 20, 2025.
At the Apapa Port, another 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were found on May 22 in a container that had been under surveillance.
Meanwhile, four suspects—two British nationals and two Nigerians—were arrested for attempting to smuggle 92 bags of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis weighing 51.10kg, through the MMIA.
British national Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra was intercepted on arrival via a Qatar Airways flight from Doha on May 15. NDLEA officers, acting on intelligence, monitored his movements beyond security clearance to the airport car park. There, the receiver of the consignment, British-Nigerian Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, awaited the cargo with his relative, Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole, and a driver, Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami. All three were arrested at the scene.
