In another milestone efforts in combating international drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has successfully arrested two brothers – John Abugu, 43, and Kenneth Abugu, 31 – at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).
The major operation highlights the agency’s ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within and through Nigeria.
The agency seized 5 kilograms of cocaine hidden in their luggage as they attempted to depart for India.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, they were arrested on April 3, 2025 following proactive processing of credible intelligence.
The statement reads: “They claimed they were travelling to India for medical treatment but when their suitcases were thoroughly searched by NDLEA officers, whitish powdery substances later confirmed to be cocaine were discovered on the walls of their bags.”
Also, on the same day, NDLEA officers at the MMIA Strategic Command made another notable seizure, intercepting Parker Darren Hazekia Osei, a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British national, with 36 parcels of Loud, a potent cannabis strain weighing 19.40kg, concealed in a large traveling bag.
The suspect, who identifies himself as a Computer Science student at East London University, UK, was apprehended during the inward clearance process for passengers arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, at the E-arrival hall of the Lagos airport.
In his statement, the techie claims he lives with his parents in the UK but left London about a week ago for Bangkok where he picked up the illicit drug consignment to deliver in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Kogi State have arrested 33-year-old Ngozi Ogili while she was transporting 3 kilograms of methamphetamine from Lagos to Abuja.
Ogili was apprehended on March 31, while traveling in a commercial transport bus along the Okene-Lokoja highway.
A subsequent operation at her designated delivery point in Abuja’s Apo mechanic area resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of Loud and Colorado, both synthetic cannabis strains.
In a similar development, on April 1, NDLEA officers in Abia State arrested 75-year-old Nnanna Felix with 1.6kg of skunk, a cannabis strain, during a raid at Umunteke Asa in the Ukwa West Local Government Area.
On the same day, NDLEA officers also arrested 21-year-old David Chinemerem with 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine at 7 Nnajiego Lane, Umuode Road, Aba.
On April 5, NDLEA operatives seized 381 bottles of codeine syrup and 108 tablets of tramadol from suspect Abdullahi Adamu along the Potiskum-Damaturu road in Yobe state.
Also, a raid at Osogbo motor park, Onitsha, and a house at Oba in Idemili Local Government Area, Anambra state on April 5, resulted in the arrest of Obinna Sunday and the seizure of 195,000 tramadol pills.
During the motor park raid, the agency also arrested Ugochukwu Ojalanonye, who was found in possession of 4.2kg of codeine syrup and 5.4kg of pentazocine.
In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on April 3, NDLEA operatives arrested 51-year-old Sunday Ayogu, who was found with 25kg of skunk and 90.4g of methamphetamine, during a raid at Wuse Market in Abuja.
On April 4, NDLEA operatives, backed by Nigerian Army personnel, conducted a raid on cannabis plantations in Esuk-Odot community, Odukpani LGA, Cross River State, resulting in the arrest of two women, 64-year-old Faith Effiong Etim and 40-year-old Victoria Asuquo Etim, and the destruction of 250,000 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on over 100 hectares of farmland.
Across the country, various commands and formations of the agency continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts with unwavering enthusiasm, targeting schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities, among others, over the past week.
Some notable events included WADA enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Cave City Secondary School in Ogidi, Anambra State; residents of Dan’iyau village in Batagarawa LGA, Katsina; and members of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers in Sangere and Kwanan Waya, Yola, Adamawa State, among other engagements.
NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa commended officers and men of the various commands, including MMIA, SOU, Yobe, Abia, Kogi, Anambra, Cross River, and FCT, for their notable arrests and seizures.
He also appreciated their balanced approach to reducing drug supply and demand nationwide.
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