By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested two Nigerian businessmen travelling to France with 3.46kg of cocaine at Abuja airport, intercepted 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and seized large consignments of illicit drugs across seven states.
The two Europe-based businessmen, Aliocus Godian Odife and Sam Blackborn, were intercepted on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 832 from Abuja to Paris.
Both men were returning to Paris after visiting Nigeria. Odife, who lives in France and works in a factory, had arrived in the country on October 21 for a short holiday, according to a statement emailed to Persecondnews on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy.
A body scan conducted on Odife revealed foreign objects in his stomach, prompting further investigation by NDLEA operatives.
He admitted swallowing 110 pellets of cocaine and was placed under observation, during which he excreted all 110 wraps.
The recovered cocaine tested positive for the illicit drug and weighed 1.901kg.
His co-traveller, Blackborn, was intercepted at the departure hall while preparing to board the same flight.
A body scan also revealed foreign objects in his stomach, and he admitted swallowing 90 pellets of cocaine.
He subsequently excreted all 90 wraps, which tested positive for Class A cocaine and weighed 1.559kg.
The two men excreted a combined 200 wraps of cocaine weighing 3.460kg.
In another interdiction, the agency also arrested a woman, Aisha Isah, who was allegedly transporting 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition when NDLEA operatives on patrol intercepted her at the tollgate along the Abuja–Kaduna expressway.
Also, along the Zaria–Kano expressway in Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested 68-year-old Ifeanyi Egwolonwu at Gwargwaje, Zaria.
Egwolonwu was found with 2,770 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 100 ampoules of diazepam injection, 11,000 diazepam tablets and 4,500 Exol-5 tablets.
In Lagos, two separate operations on Sunday, October 25, led to the seizure of 976kg of skunk.
Acting on intelligence about the movement of the illicit substance from the Island to the Mainland, operatives intercepted a white Volkswagen LT 28 bus along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja.
The vehicle contained 537kg of skunk, while another 439kg was recovered from a brown J5 bus intercepted along the Gbagada–Oshodi expressway on the same day.
Meanwhile, in Oyo State, a follow-up operation on Thursday, October 29, led to the arrest of Oguntona Nasiru, 46, and Soji Balogun, 47.
The suspects were apprehended along Idere Road, Igboora, while loading 554kg of skunk into a Volvo truck for onward movement into town.
The operation targeted a notorious drug dealer identified as “Omo Oba”, who escaped arrest on October 25 when operatives seized 309.5kg of Ghanaian Loud linked to him.
According to the NDLEA , a raid in Kano State on Monday, October 26, at Tsamiya area of Gezawa led to the recovery of 247,500 diazepam tablets weighing 57.7kg.
Operatives also seized 100,000 Exol-5 tablets weighing 38.7kg during the operation.
Another raid on Wednesday, October 28, at Dorayi area of the state led to the arrest of Ziya’ulhaq Abdullahi, 35, and Garba Muhammed, 52.
The suspects were found with 19,250 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 13.6kg.
At Tashan Banke, seven suspects, including Faisal Adamu, were arrested, while 178.85kg of cannabis was recovered.
Quantities of diazepam, tramadol, Exol-5 and pregabalin were also seized during the operation.
In Ondo State, operatives raided cannabis farms in Ijare forest on Sunday, October 25, following credible intelligence.
Four suspects were arrested during the operation, although the statement identified only three of them: Bassey Okon, 24; Abraham Edet, 20; and Oto Udo, 24.
The operation also led to the recovery of 16 bags of processed cannabis weighing 180kg.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, raided Eko Camp in Ilushi, Esan South East Local Government Area, on Wednesday, October 28.
The operation led to the destruction of a 1.646-hectare cannabis plantation with an estimated yield of 4,115.53kg.
A 50-year-old woman, Christiana Uboi, was arrested with 301kg of processed cannabis, while another 176kg was recovered during the raid.
In Sokoto State, operatives of the agency’s Zone 7 Command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested 68-year-old Ibrahim Ayuba on Saturday, October 31.
He was found with 236.6kg of skunk.
Beyond the arrests and seizures, NDLEA commands and formations continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers and men of the agency’s commands at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Ondo, Oyo and Edo for the operations.
Marwa described the interception of the two cocaine couriers at Abuja airport as a fresh warning to those who think living abroad provides cover to traffic illicit drugs across Nigerian borders.
He maintained that officers at all entry and exit points remained alert, warning that there would be no hiding place for anyone who risked their lives and liberty by ingesting illicit drugs for a fee.
The NDLEA chief charged officers to sustain the tempo against drug cartels and continue drug demand reduction activities and WADA sensitisation across the country.
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