Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple attempts to smuggle cocaine, opioids, and cannabis through Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the Seme land border, and other locations, destined for Europe and other regions.
A 35-year-old Kano-based businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, was arrested at the departure tarmac of Seme land border on February 16, 2026, while attempting to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic. NDLEA discovered that Muhammad had faked a pregnancy by strapping a pink calabash to her stomach to conceal 3,200 tramadol capsules.
In Lagos, 41-year-old Ivorian Michael Gohouri, also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael, was apprehended at the departure hall for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa. A body scan revealed 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms. Investigations showed that Gohouri ingested the cocaine in a Kano hotel and was to be paid €5,000 upon delivery in Milan.
NDLEA also arrested Mr. Kolapo Oladapo Raji, 57, Chairman and CEO of Trans Fortress Global Resources, at his Lekki residence on February 12. Authorities recovered 89.20 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis and a 2024 Toyota Hilux. Raji reportedly admitted to financing drug consignments for an overseas associate and later establishing his own distribution network.
Additional operations in Lagos led to the arrest of Ugwuja Kingsley with 56 kilograms of skunk at Agbara, and Ekwe Arinze with 76 kilograms at a motor park in Oshodi. At Port Harcourt Ports Complex, 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup were seized in a container during a joint examination with Customs.
On the Okene/Lokoja highway in Kogi State, NDLEA recovered 7,300 tramadol 225mg pills hidden in two sound systems on a Lagos-to-Kano bus. A follow-up operation in Zuba, Abuja, on February 17 led to the arrest of two suspects, Ezenma Kingsley, 26, and Ezeja Anthony, 29, linked to the consignment.
In Ondo State, Bright Timothy, 28, was arrested at Iju Forest with 195 kilograms of skunk and seeds, while Godwin Bernard was nabbed with 198 kilograms during a raid. In Bauchi State, NDLEA seized 936 kilograms of skunk from Yahaya Adamu Gimba, 48, in Azare town, Katagum LGA, and another 85.8 kilograms from Gimba, Nasiru Suleman, 36, Abdul Umar, 25, and Musa Suleman, 21, also in Azare.
NDLEA described the operations as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks, prevent illicit substances from entering local and international markets, and protect public health and security.
