June 28 (THEWILL) — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a series of major anti-narcotics breakthroughs across the country, including the arrest of a businesswoman attempting to smuggle 7.5 kilograms of cocaine to China, the seizure of cannabis worth over ₦12.39 billion at the Apapa Port, and the dismantling of a criminal syndicate that secretly plants illicit drugs in the luggage of unsuspecting passengers at motor parks.
The Agency disclosed the operations in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, a 38-year-old businesswoman, Iwebema Ogechi Peace, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on June 21 while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to Beijing, China.
The suspect, who reportedly travels regularly to China to purchase goods for sale in Nigeria, was intercepted following credible intelligence. A search of her luggage uncovered four large parcels of cocaine weighing 7.5 kilograms, expertly concealed in a professionally fabricated false bottom compartment of her suitcase.
In another significant operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted one of the largest consignments of imported cannabis this year after tracking a shipment containing 195 large sacks of Canadian Loud, a highly potent strain of cannabis.
The Agency said the 4,959-kilogram consignment, estimated to have a street value of ₦12.397 billion, was recovered during a joint examination involving officers of the NDLEA Apapa Strategic Command, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
Investigations revealed that the shipment originated from Toronto, Canada, on April 25, before passing through Montreal by rail, Morocco’s Tanger Med Port and other international transit points before arriving at Tincan Port, Lagos, on June 4 and subsequently moving to Apapa Port, where it was intercepted after weeks of surveillance.
The NDLEA also announced the dismantling of a criminal syndicate operating between Anambra State and the Federal Capital Territory that allegedly plants illicit drugs inside the luggage of unsuspecting passengers travelling by commercial buses.
The operation began after NDLEA officers intercepted a Sienna bus travelling from Nnewi to Abuja at Abaji on June 20. During the search, officers recovered 467.7 grams of suspected methamphetamine concealed inside a black nylon bag hidden within a sack of clothing bearing the intended recipient’s phone number.
The woman identified as the recipient, Mrs Gloria Peter, was arrested at Utako Motor Park but denied ownership or knowledge of the drug package.
Her denial prompted investigators to arrest loaders at the departure park in Nnewi. One of the loaders confessed that he had secretly placed the narcotics inside the woman’s luggage on the instructions of the driver, identified as Abdurrazak Isah.
Further interrogation led to the arrest of another passenger, Onyebuchi Victor Okoye, who was identified as the actual owner of the illicit consignment.
In a separate intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 57-year-old Ikechukwu Uwakwe at Iddo Motor Park in Lagos on June 27 with 209.5 kilograms of Scottish Loud, another potent strain of cannabis, which was allegedly being transported to Enugu State.
The Agency also intercepted a truck transporting illicit drugs from Togo through the Benin Republic into Nigeria.
Three suspects—two Beninese nationals, Hossou Tito Julien, 30, and Mancellim Dossou, 19, alongside Nigerian national Jackson ThankGod—were arrested after officers intercepted the truck on Mile 2 Bridge in Lagos.
A search uncovered 558,900 pills of Tramadol 250mg hidden inside a specially fabricated compartment of the vehicle.
Similarly, NDLEA officers arrested Lucky Abonga and Osas Azamobo along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on June 26 while transporting 118 kilograms of skunk concealed among legitimate goods in a truck travelling from Lagos Island to Onitsha, Anambra State.
Another raid in the Amukoko area of Lagos resulted in the arrest of Helen Ese Idiji, 40, and Rashidat Sa’adullah, 53, with 28.8 kilograms of skunk.
Investigators alleged that Helen used Rashidat’s residence as a storage facility before distributing the illicit drugs to customers.
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said it continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools and communities across Yobe, Lagos, Kano, Kogi and Enugu states.
Commending officers involved in the successful operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the MMIA, Special Operations Units, Apapa, FCT, Anambra and Lagos Commands for sustaining the Agency’s twin strategy of reducing drug supply while intensifying preventive education through public enlightenment campaigns.
He urged officers across the country to remain vigilant and sustain the momentum in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
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