The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has achieved another significant breakthrough in combating drug trafficking at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
Operatives intercepted parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, cleverly hidden inside microwaves imported from Thailand.
Additionally, wraps of cocaine were discovered meticulously built into ladies’ lipsticks, destined for Guinea.
According to Mr Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, the consignment of Loud formed part of a consolidated cargo that arrived in two tranches on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Babafemi said in a statement sent to Persecondnews on Sunday that, acting on credible intelligence, the agency conducted a thorough search of the cargo on July 7, recovering 23 parcels of Loud weighing 11.3kg concealed within new microwaves, and arresting a suspect, Ezenwegbu Chike, in connection with the seizure.
The statement reads: “Just a week after seizing 420 grams of cocaine factory-fitted in 84 pieces of female lipsticks bound for the UK at a Lagos courier company, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Lagos airport intercepted another consignment of cocaine built into ladies’ lipsticks.
“The shipment, disguised as a cargo of hair attachments, face powder, and other items, was headed to Malabo, Guinea. Upon dismantling the lipsticks, no less than 400 grams of cocaine and phenacetine, a cutting agent, were recovered.
“A businessman, Ezeikwelume Prince Afam, was arrested on Friday, July 11, in connection with the seizure at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos.
“Meanwhile, a notorious drug kingpin, Okechukwu Izugha also known as Okey Omeogo, has been arrested in Lagos by NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit after evading capture for 12 months. He was apprehended on Wednesday, July 9, at his wife’s shop in Ijesha Market.
“Izugha initially came to the attention of the NDLEA on August 7, 2024, after 9kg of cocaine was recovered from a suspect, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at a motor park in Orile, Lagos, where Agudosi was attempting to deliver the consignment to the southeast.
Investigations identified Izugha as the owner of the seized drugs.”
The statement also reads: “During the investigation into the kingpin and his network, his wife, Maureen Izugha, was arrested on January 21, 2025, with 500g of cocaine at her beverages store in Ijesha Market, and subsequently arraigned, convicted, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
“Unbeknown to him, the NDLEA was still on his trail, and the wanted kingpin emerged from hiding, only to be promptly arrested last Wednesday.
“In Edo State, no fewer than 28,054.053 kilograms of skunk, a local strain of cannabis, were destroyed on Tuesday, July 8, on three farms spanning over 11 hectares in the Ewere Uzebba forest, Owan West Local Government Area.
“Additionally, 82kg of processed cannabis were recovered from the location. However, as NDLEA operatives were leaving the forest, they came under gunfire from armed cartel members.
“Despite being attacked, the operatives successfully repelled the assault, escaping unharmed, although one of their operational vehicles was riddled with bullets.
“In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 1,400 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 700kg, and a Ford delivery truck marked JJJ 698 YJ at Okun-Ajah Beach.”
The statement added: “Also in Lagos, Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul were arrested along the Ajah-Epe Expressway on Friday, July 11, with 26kg of Ghana Loud, 123g of methamphetamine, 45g of Molly, and their delivery van, registered AJK 191 LG.
“NDLEA operatives in Borno state arrested Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi, 42, with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine, tramadol pills, and rohypnol at Njimtilo, Maiduguri, on July 12. This followed the seizure of 10,000 tramadol pills from Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu, 34, on Wednesday, 9 July.
“Meanwhile, their counterparts in Gombe state recovered a total of 116,226 pills of tramadol and D-5 from five suspects: Hafiz Bello, 22; Isah Suleman, 48; Kabiru Muhammed, 30; Abdullahi Adamu, 30; and Abel Murna, 25, at Gombe Main Market and along the Gombe-Kano road on Tuesday, July 8, and Saturday, July 12.
“A suspect, Sabiu Bala, was arrested on Thursday, July 10, along the Okene-Lokoja Expressway in Kogi State while conveying 316.600kg of skunk, and another suspect, Haladu Suleiman, 38, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives with 58.805kg of the same substance in the Gubuchi area of Ikara Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
“In Taraba state, three suspects: Auwal Ibrahim, 30; Lukman Ibrahim, 18; and Hamza Adamu, 25, were on Saturday July 12, arrested by NDLEA officers at Lanka Viri checkpoint while conveying 577,890 pills of opioids and 1.160kg skunk concealed in tyre compartment of a petrol tanker marked MUB 334 YH.
“Three other suspects: Shamsudini Abdullahi, 35; Adamu Abdullahi,21; and Magaji Rabo, 26, were nabbed with 48.1kg skunk at Janguza barracks area of Kano state by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday July 9.”
The War Against Drug Abuse(WADA), social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week.
These included WADA sensitization lectures delivered to students and staff at several schools: Word of Promise High School in Calabar, Cross River; Government Girls Arabic Senior Secondary School in Indabo, Wudil, Kano and Community Secondary School in Umundu, Enugu.
Others include Okemagba Senior High School in Epe, Lagos; Bishop Gideon Otubelu Memorial College in Ukpo, Anambra; and to traditional rulers in Bende, Abia.
The NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of MMIA, SOU, Edo, Lagos, Taraba, Kano, Kogi, Gombe, Borno and kaduna Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week.
He also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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