In a series of successful counter-narcotics operations, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted shipments of Ketamine, Ecstasy, and Tramadol destined for Zambia and the United Kingdom.
The illicit substances were found concealed within coffee mix sachets and book parcels at a Lagos courier firm on December 24 and 29, 2025.
Additionally, the Agency detained 22 Indian crew members following the discovery of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine aboard the merchant vessel MV Aruna Hulya.
The seizure took place on Friday, January 2, 2026, at the GDNL terminal in Apapa Port, Lagos.
According to a statement released on Sunday, January 4, by Mr. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, and emailed to Persecondnews, those detained in connection with the discovery of the 31.5kg cocaine in hatch 3 of the ship, which originated from Marshall Islands, include the Master of the Vessel, Sharma Shashi Bhushan and 21 other crew members.
The crew members are: Bharati Manoj Kumar; Bhalerao Nilesh Mukund; Nadar Anthony Macson David; Kolusu Srinivasa Rao; Sagar Gaurav; Francis Anto Beemas Nester; Jagdeep Singh; Jai Parkash; Prabhukhan Singh; Nevage Sandesh Suresh, and Pandey Prashant.
Also detained are Nittu Anand; Akash Babu; Dasari Raju; Reddy Nandika Sanjeeba; Rana Nivesh; Melethil Insaf Rahman; Barla Chantanya Krishna; Ghosh Arijit; Mondal Raihan; and Gangwar Shiv Om.
The statement reads: “Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Oyo state on Monday, December 29, 2025 arrested a wanted female drug kingpin who is a major illicit drug distributor in Ibadan, the state capital.
“The 65-year-old grandma, Fatima Ilori, popularly known as Mama Kerosine was nabbed in an intelligence-led operation following the seizure of 238.4kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, linked to her. She was arrested along with another female suspect Olusanya Abosede, 35, at Onireke/Elekuro area of Ibadan.
“In Borno state, the supply chain of illicit drugs to insurgents was further disrupted with the arrest of two suppliers and seizure of large consignments of illicit substances.
“While one of the suspects, Isa Mohammed, 26, was arrested by NDLEA operatives following the interception of 9,150 ampoules of Tramadol Injection along Maiduguri-Gamboru Ngala road on Friday, January 2, 2026, the other suspect Musa Samaila, 30, was nabbed with 34,000 capsules of Tramadol at Biu market same day.
“Not less than 400kg skunk was recovered along with a van at Mobolaji Johnson area of Lagos on new year day, Thursday, January 1, 2026, while a suspect Bilya Ibrahim, 39, was arrested at a motor park in Hadejia town, Jigawa State on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 while trying to transport 260 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 140.8kg, which he procured from Taraba State to Nguru, Yobe State.
“In Kwara state, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, December 30 recovered 238.50kg skunk from the home of a suspect at Asadam area of Ilorin, while a total of 32,000 pills of tramadol and diazepam were seized from another suspect Abubakar Rabiu, 32, at Bode Saadu, Morro LGA, on new year eve, Wednesday, December 31, 2025.”
In like manner, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Madrasatu Fadimatul Zahra Sabuwar Abuja Kankia, Kankia LGA, Katsina; members of Topo Youth Progressive Organisation, Topo Badagry, Lagos; and residents of Madalla community at the palace of Hakimi Madalla, Niger state, among others.
The NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the DOGI, Apapa, Oyo, Borno, Lagos, Kwara and Jigawa Commands for the arrests, and seizures.
He urged them and their colleagues across the country to intensify the ongoing drug control efforts of the Agency.
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