June 22, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 43-year-old female make-up artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, after discovering 2.2 kilograms of cocaine factory-fitted in the walls of her luggage.
According to a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the suspect was apprehended on Monday, June 16, 2025, following credible intelligence.
She was placed under surveillance and allowed to check in her luggage. Adekoya was arrested while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha. Upon searching her suitcase, operatives discovered two large parcels of cocaine weighing 2.2kg concealed in the bag’s walls.
During interrogation, she claimed she was traveling under the pretext of undergoing fibroid surgery in India but admitted the trip was actually for financial gain.
Further investigation revealed that Adekoya was recruited and sponsored by a drug baron, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, who is currently at large. Adekanbi is the owner of Rockford Hotel in Sango, Ogun State, and resides at Igbe Laara in the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
In related operations, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) on Thursday, June 19, intercepted a consignment of sewn female dresses containing 1.3kg of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, en route to Bahrain.
At another courier firm on Wednesday, June 18, operatives uncovered 850 grams of cocaine hidden inside cloth hangers, destined for Australia.
In Bauchi State, officers acting on intelligence arrested Ibrahim Galadima, 37, and Ibrahim Muhammed, 28, along Bauchi-Darazo Road on June 16. Recovered from them were 1,013,000 pills of opioids including tramadol, diazepam, and Exol-5.
In Kaduna, 38-year-old Bishir Isyaku was arrested on June 17 along the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway with 14.2kg of skunk hidden in two sacks of charcoal and seven cartons of rubber solution weighing 198kg.
In Abuja, six suspects including Murtala Adamu and Ahmed Ismai’l were apprehended during a raid on June 18 in Karu Abattoir and Torabora areas. Seized items included 6.9kg of skunk and 59 grams of methamphetamine.
NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Zaria-Kano Road on June 19 arrested Umar Hamisu, 19, and Dahiru Abdullahi, 32, with 56.2kg of skunk. On the same day, Obiwuru Henry, 27, was caught with 23,720 capsules of tramadol and 1,400 ampoules of pentazocine in Fagge LGA.
Also on June 21, Abubakar Modu, 60, and Abdulkadir Muhammed, 28, were arrested with 36.6kg and 32kg of skunk respectively on the Zaria-Kano Road.
In Ilorin, Kwara State, 22-year-old Olotin Nifemi, a student of the Kwara State Polytechnic notorious for supplying drugs to fellow students, was arrested on June 19 along Kwara Poly Road with 1kg of skunk.
In Edo State, operatives raided Ugbada Camp in the Uzebba Forest, Owan West LGA, on June 20 and destroyed 4,226.11kg of cannabis. One suspect, Albert Shamaki, 33, was arrested.
On June 19, another raid at Big Jamaya Supermarket in Emado, Esan West LGA, led to the arrest of 28-year-old Esther Abumere and seizure of assorted illicit drugs including Colorado, Loud, Molly, tramadol, and other opioids. In Idumeka, Igueben, a separate raid at a provision shop led to the arrest of Eko Gift, 38, and seizure of 1.143kg of skunk.
NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy continued nationwide with sensitization lectures delivered at Government Day Arabic Secondary School, Guri (Jigawa); Government College, Lafia (Nasarawa); Atodo Secondary School, Ankpa (Kogi); Natsugunne JSS, Jabba (Kano); and Shallom Academy, Ibagwa (Enugu).
The Osun State Command also paid an advocacy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, at his palace in Ile-Ife.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers and men of the MMIA, DOGI, and Commands in Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Edo, and FCT for their recent efforts. He also praised all other NDLEA personnel nationwide for maintaining a balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
