The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs, including cocaine and tramadol, ingeniously concealed in items such as vehicle side mirrors, lipstick containers, and footwear, leading to a series of arrests across Lagos, Abuja, and several other states.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed in a statement on Sunday that operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, intercepted a shipment bound for Libreville, Gabon, on July 19. The cargo contained 57,420 pills of tramadol (225mg) and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.60kg, all hidden inside 71 vehicle side mirrors.
The seizure led to the arrest of cargo agent Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict. A follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah, from whose residence another 11 parcels of cocaine, totaling 1kg, were recovered. In total, NDLEA recovered 2.60kg of cocaine across 68 parcels.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers arrested businesswoman Mrs. Nwafor Roseann Nneka at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos. She was linked to a July 10 consignment of cocaine and phenacetine concealed inside women’s lipstick containers, destined for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Two cargo agents had earlier been arrested in connection with the shipment. While Nneka admitted to purchasing the lipsticks used for the concealment, her husband and alleged accomplice, Remigus Nwafor, remains at large.
Meanwhile, in Abuja, three dispatch riders—Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28)—were arrested for distributing 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, across Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa. Additionally, two suspects were apprehended along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg of skunk.
Further arrests and seizures were reported across the country. In Lagos, Joseph Michael was arrested in Mushin with 3.3kg of Colorado (a synthetic cannabis strain), while Ibrahim Sulaiman was nabbed in Yaba with 16.5 litres of “skuchies,” a locally brewed cannabis drink. In Benue, Hussein Yusuf, 37, was arrested at a checkpoint with 100,000 tramadol capsules. In Edo, NDLEA operatives seized 233.5kg of skunk from a warehouse in Ekpoma and arrested 44-year-old William Alabi.
At Maiduguri airport in Borno, Umar Aminu, 38, was caught with 160 tramadol pills concealed in footwear. In Ogun State, Yahaya Aminat Seyi was found with 7,218 opioid pills in the Oja Odan area. In Oyo, 77.5kg of skunk was recovered in Ibadan from Oladeji Saka. In Delta, Benson Izah, 40, was arrested in Abraka with quantities of skunk, tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine syrup.
In Bayelsa, Chief Emeka Opara, 52, and Onuoha Chidinma, 25, were apprehended in Amassoma with 41,705 tramadol capsules. In Kano, 30-year-old Bashir Gambo was caught with 61kg of skunk. In Osun State, Kabiru Ayinde, 40, and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were arrested at Ile-Ogbo in Iwo with 90kg of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus, and ₦228,200 in cash.
The NDLEA also reported continued efforts under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, with sensitization programs held in schools, religious institutions, transport hubs, and traditional palaces—including a courtesy visit to the Oluwo of Iwo Land, Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi.
Commending officers across MMIA, MBIAM, the FCT, and various state commands, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) emphasized the agency’s commitment to a balanced strategy in combating drug trafficking and abuse nationwide.
