February 22, (THEWILL) — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and foiled multiple drug trafficking schemes across the country, including a bizarre attempt by a woman to smuggle drugs using a fake pregnancy and the arrest of an Ivorian national, who excreted 82 wraps of cocaine at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.
Spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.
In one of the startling interceptions, the statement disclosed that a Kano-based businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, 35, was apprehended on Monday, February 16, 2026, at the Seme land border while attempting to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic. NDLEA operatives became suspicious of her unusually protruding tummy, which she claimed was a pregnancy. A thorough search, however, revealed that the “baby bump” was fake—constructed with a pink-coloured calabash strapped to her abdomen to conceal 3,200 capsules of tramadol intended for sale in Cotonou.
On the same day in Kano, NDLEA officers at the departure hall of MAKIA intercepted a 41-year-old Ivorian, Michael Gohouri, also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael, during passenger clearance for Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan via Addis Ababa. A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit substances. He was subsequently placed under observation and excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms.
Investigations revealed that Gohouri had arrived in Lagos from Milan on January 17, 2026, shuttled between Lagos and Enugu for three weeks, and later travelled to Kano, where he ingested the cocaine in a hotel room. He reportedly expected a payment of €5,000 upon successful delivery in Milan. The suspect, who claims dual Nigerian-Ivorian parentage, holds an Italian residence permit valid until May 25, 2026, and also possesses a Nigerian National Identification Number under a Nigerian name.
In a major breakthrough against drug cartels, NDLEA operatives arrested Mr Kolapo Oladapo Raji, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Trans Fortress Global Resources, a real estate development firm. The 57-year-old was taken into custody at his Ikate, Lekki residence in Lagos on Thursday, February 12, 2026, following sustained surveillance after his return from the United Kingdom. A search of his apartment led to the recovery of 89.20kg of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and a 2024 Toyota Hilux. Raji, who had been on the NDLEA watchlist since 2025, admitted to financing overseas drug consignments before establishing his own distribution network.
Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives continued a nationwide crackdown, arresting Ugwuja Kingsley with 56kg of skunk at Agbara, Lagos, and Ekwe Arinze with 76kg at a motor park in Oshodi. At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies uncovered 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup concealed in a container.
Along the Okene–Lokoja highway in Kogi State, officers intercepted 7,300 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in two sound systems aboard a commuter bus. Follow-up operations in Zuba, Abuja, led to the arrest of Ezenma Kingsley, 26, and Ezeja Anthony, 29.
In Ondo State, NDLEA raided forest enclaves in Iju, arresting Bright Timothy, 28, with 195kg of skunk, and Godwin Bernard with 198kg. In Bauchi State, 936kg of skunk was seized from Yahaya Adamu Gimba, 48, while additional quantities were recovered from his associates in Azare town.
Further seizures were recorded in Delta and Edo States, including the arrest of a 68-year-old grandmother, Evelyn Ogenewu, alongside Friday Iruoje, 43, and the destruction of over 1,266kg of skunk on cannabis farms in Edo.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities across Oyo, Yobe, Imo, Gombe, Cross River, Kano and Lagos States.
Commending officers involved in the operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the agency’s recent successes reflect the effectiveness of its balanced strategy of drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction, noting that the commitment of personnel across commands remains highly appreciated.
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