In a major milestone efforts to combat international drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has successfully intercepted large quantities of illicit drugs bound for several countries, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates.
The seized drugs, comprising cocaine, tramadol, loud, and molly, were cleverly hidden inside innocuous-looking items, including prayer beads, board game packs, and women’s clothing.
The agency announced this in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday.
The statement reads: “Desperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations (DTO) to move illicit consignments such as Cocaine, Tramadol, Loud, Molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and the Lagos airport have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
“At least, two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos have already been arrested. One of them is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday, 8th March 2025.
“When she was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage. In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy.
“At the export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, 11th March arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400grams of skunk going to New York, United States of America.
“At some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI.
“Other shipments of 230grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.”
In a separate operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives apprehended 40-year-old Hassan Haruna in the Chalawa area, seizing 727 blocks of compressed skunk, which weighed approximately 479 kilograms.
Also in Kogi State, anti-narcotics officers intercepted a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja along the Kabba-Obajana highway, seizing 58,300 pills of tramadol.
Further raids in Kachia, Kaduna State, resulted in the arrest of 21-year-old Idris Hamza, who was discovered with 4,900 pills of 225mg tramadol in his possession.
A separate raid in the Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North Local Government Area led to the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji, from whom 2,900 tablets of 225mg tramadol were confiscated.
The statement added: “In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect Hassan Haruna who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Chalawa area of the state on Wednesday 12th March, while no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi state in a commercial bus coming from Lagos enroute Abuja on Tuesday 11th March.
“Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna state on Thursday 13th March led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him, just as a similar exercise in Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LGA, on Friday 14th March resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered.”
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives seized 40,200 tablets of 225mg tramadol from two suspects, Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan, during an interception operation.
Along the Eiyenkorin expressway in Ilorin, a separate operation resulted in the seizure of 21,700 tramadol capsules and the arrest of a suspect, Salisu Usman.
In Taraba State, a 35-year-old suspect, Polycarp Adeku, was apprehended by officers, who seized 15.77 kilograms of skunk in his possession.
Meanwhile, in Osun State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial bus transporting 48.7 kilograms of Ghanaian loud, Colorado, and Canadian loud, all highly potent strains of cannabis.
The statement said: “While a total of 40, 200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara state on Friday 14th March, NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect Salisu Usman along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin on Thursday 13th March.
“In Taraba State, NDLEA officers on Friday 14th March arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, at Bente road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77Kg skunk, while in Osun state, operatives on Thursday 13th March, intercepted a commercial bus marked SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island in front of King University, Ode-omu, with a total of 48.7kg Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis.
“Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.”
In Abuja, NDLEA officers apprehended 58-year-old Ade Esan, alias “Pastor”, along the Gwagwalada expressway, where he was found in possession of 27,800 tablets of 225mg tramadol.
Additionally, a 26-year-old suspect, Usman Mohammed, was arrested with undisclosed quantities of skunk and cocaine in his possession.
In Abia State, a targeted raid in the Ntigha community of Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area led to the arrest of 34-year-old Chinaza Nwogu, alias “Young Money”.
Babafemi also stated: “A 58-year-old suspect Ade Esan (aka Pastor) was on Tuesday 11th March arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja.
“In Abia state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 15th March raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, where a 34-year-old suspect Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money) was arrested with 274grams of heroin, 141grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, 4grams of cocaine and Seven Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Fifteen Naira (N753,015.00) monetary exhibit.”
In a proactive move, the agency has recently taken the fight against illicit substances directly to the traffickers’ doorsteps.
In 2024, the agency achieved remarkable milestones, seizing over 2.6 million kilograms of illicit drugs nationwide.
It also apprehended more than 18,500 drug trafficking offenders, securing over 3,250 convictions, including 10 high-profile drug barons.
Furthermore, the NDLEA destroyed extensive cannabis farms spanning over 220 hectares, dealing a significant blow to illicit drug cultivation.
It also demonstrated its commitment to prevention and rehabilitation by counselling and rehabilitating over 8,200 individuals.
Additionally, it conducted more than 3,000 sensitization and advocacy programmes across various settings, including schools, markets, motor parks, worship centres, workplaces, and communities.
Leave a comment