August 03, (THEWILL) — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol 225mg concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The drugs were en route to Libreville, Gabon, when the seizure was made. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, three suspects linked to the illicit cargo have been arrested in follow-up operations.
The first consignment, intercepted on Saturday, July 19, contained 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.60kg. A well-known cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, who handled the shipment, was apprehended immediately. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of another suspect, Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah, on Sunday, July 20.
On Monday, July 21, operatives recovered 11 more parcels of cocaine weighing 1kg from four additional side mirrors found at Uzochukwu’s residence, raising the total haul to 68 parcels of cocaine weighing 2.60kg.
In a related development, a businesswoman, Mrs. Nwafor Roseann Nneka, was arrested at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, on Friday, August 1. Her arrest followed the earlier seizure of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine—a cocaine-cutting agent—concealed in lipstick tubes destined for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, via the Lagos airport on July 10.
Two cargo agents had initially been detained before Nneka’s arrest. She later confessed to purchasing the lipsticks used for concealment, while her husband, Remigus Nwafor—now at large—handled the packaging.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Abuja arrested three dispatch riders—Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28—on Wednesday, July 30, for distributing illicit substances across the Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas. The officers recovered 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, from the suspects.
In a separate operation along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway on Saturday, August 2, two individuals—Aliyu Abubakar, 25, and Adekunle Agbabiaka, 30—were apprehended with 91.1kg of skunk.
Similarly, intelligence-led operations in Lagos on August 2 led to the arrest of Joseph Michael in Mushin with 3.3kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis. A day earlier, Ibrahim Sulaiman was arrested in the Iwaya area of Yaba with 16.5 litres of a psychoactive cocktail known as skuchies.
In Benue State, a checkpoint operation on August 1 resulted in the seizure of 100,000 tramadol capsules from 37-year-old Hussein Yusuf along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road. That same day in Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Ekpoma, arresting 44-year-old William Alabi and recovering 233.5kg of skunk.
In Maiduguri, Borno State, operatives at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport (MBIAM) arrested Umar Aminu, 38, who attempted to smuggle 160 pills of tramadol concealed in his footwear upon arrival.
Also on August 1, a raid in Oja Odan, Ogun State, led to the arrest of Yahaya Aminat Seyi with 7,218 opioid pills, mainly tramadol. In Oyo State, officers arrested 54-year-old Oladeji Saka at Asanike, Ibadan, with 77.5kg of skunk. In Delta State, 40-year-old Benson Izah was arrested in Abraka with 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine.
In Bayelsa State, 52-year-old Chief Emeka Opara and 25-year-old Onuoha Chidinma were arrested along Tantua Road, Amassoma. A total of 41,705 tramadol capsules and other assorted opioids were recovered from their shop and residence.
In Kano, operatives nabbed 30-year-old Bashir Gambo at Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada Local Government Area, with 61kg of skunk.
Meanwhile, in Osun State, Kabiru Ayinde, 40, and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were arrested in Ile-Ogbo, Iwo town, on July 28. Officers recovered 90kg of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus with registration number SMK 755 YF, and ₦228,200 in cash.
Across the country, NDLEA Commands intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns in schools, religious centres, transport hubs, and communities. Awareness programmes were conducted at Ciroma Ibrahim Islamiyya School, Potiskum; Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’an and General Studies, Sokoto; Borno Express metro drivers in Maiduguri; and the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Enugu. The Osun State Command also paid a courtesy visit to the Oluwo of Iwo land, Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi.
Commending the various commands for their efforts, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged officers nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach in the ongoing war against drug abuse and trafficking.
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.
