The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 43-year-old make-up artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary, after operatives discovered 2.2 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the factory-fitted walls of her suitcase.
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said Adekoya was intercepted on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, as she attempted to board a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha.
According to the agency, Adekoya claimed she was traveling for fibroid surgery, but further investigation revealed she was recruited and sponsored by a wanted drug baron, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, owner of Rockford Hotel in Sango, Ogun State, who resides in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos.
“When her luggage was searched, two large parcels of cocaine weighing 2.2kg were found concealed within the suitcase. She admitted to embarking on the trip for financial gain under the guise of seeking medical treatment,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the agency reported intercepting a shipment of sewn female dresses containing 1.3kg of ‘Loud’—a potent strain of cannabis—at a courier company in Lagos on Thursday, June 19, bound for Bahrain. A day earlier, operatives at another courier firm uncovered 850 grams of cocaine concealed inside cloth hangers in a package destined for Australia.
1 Million+ opioid pills seized in Bauchi
Acting on intelligence, NDLEA officers in Bauchi arrested Ibrahim Galadima (37) and Ibrahim Muhammed (28) along the Bauchi-Darazo Road, recovering 1,013,000 pills of tramadol, diazepam, and Exol-5 on June 16.
On June 17, Bishir Isyaku (38) was arrested along the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway with 14.2kg of skunk hidden in charcoal sacks and 198kg of rubber solution in seven cartons.
In the Federal Capital Territory, six suspects — including Murtala Adamu and Ahmed Isma’il — were arrested on June 18 in raids at Karu Abattoir and Torabora, with seizures including 6.9kg of skunk and 59g of methamphetamine.
In Kano, patrol officers arrested: Umar Hamisu (19) and Dahiru Abdullahi (32) with 56.2kg of skunk on June 19. Obiwuru Henry (27) with 23,720 tramadol capsules and 1,400 ampoules of pentazocine in Fagge.
In Kwara, a 22-year-old female student, Olotin Nifemi of Kwara State Polytechnic, was arrested on June 19 for selling drugs to students. She was found with 1kg of skunk at her base along Kwara Poly Road in Ilorin.
NDLEA operatives destroyed 4,226.11kg of skunk during a raid on Ugbada camp in Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA, Edo State, on Friday, June 20. One suspect, Albert Shamaki (33), was arrested at the scene.
A day earlier, officers raided the Big Jamaya Supermarket in Esan West LGA, arresting Esther Abumere (28) and recovering various illicit drugs including Colorado, Loud, Molly, tramadol, and other opioids.
At another raid in Idumeka, Igueben, Eko Gift (38) was arrested with 1.143kg of skunk.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across the MMIA, DOGI, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Edo, and FCT commands for the arrests and seizures. He praised their commitment to balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction, describing the week’s operations as evidence of progress in Nigeria’s war against drugs.
