NDLEA Foils Drug Smuggling Attempts at Lagos Airport, Seizes Large Consignments Across Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in unusual ways, including inside carton walls, winter jackets and body cream containers, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and a courier company in Lagos.

The anti-narcotics agency also reported major seizures and arrests during coordinated operations across several states including Kano State, Kaduna State, Edo State, Oyo State, Federal Capital Territory, Taraba State and Adamawa State.

According to the spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, desperate attempts by drug trafficking organisations to smuggle opioids and methamphetamine to European countries were thwarted through intelligence-led operations.

He said in a statement on Sunday that at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives arrested 37-year-old Friday Ehianuka last Friday,, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome. A search of his luggage uncovered 2,698 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed inside containers of skin-lightening body cream.

Ehianuka, who resides in Milan, was said to have admitted he was promised payment in euros if he successfully delivered the drugs.

In another operation on March 18, NDLEA officers at the departure hall of the airport intercepted Christian Agbonhese, 38, who was preparing to board a Lufthansa flight to Milan. A thorough search of his luggage revealed 28,470 pills of opioids hidden inside two large winter jackets. The seized drugs included 23,150 pills of tramadol 225mg, 4,000 tablets of tapentadol 250mg and 1,320 pills of tramadol 100mg.

Elsewhere in Lagos, NDLEA operatives at a courier firm intercepted two parcels containing one kilogramme of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis shipped from the United States to Nigeria. Another parcel containing 158 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in the walls of a carton and destined for New Zealand was also seized.

In Kano, two suspects were arrested on March 18 with large quantities of skunk, a strong cannabis strain. Abdulkadir Mamuda, 35, was apprehended at Dan-Tsalle with 102.5 kilograms of the substance, while Uche Festus, 47, was arrested at Naibawa Gabas with 95.5 kilogrammes.

A raid in the Otto area of Ijora in Lagos led to the recovery of 21,737 bottles of codeine-based syrup, while two suspects — Chidiebere Anigbogu and Paul Nwagbara — were arrested on the Third Mainland Bridge with 8,380 bottles of the same substance.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives recovered 97.5 kilogrammes of skunk from the residence of Akeem Idde, 37, in Ojah, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

Similarly, officers in Abuja intercepted a commercial bus along the Gwagwalada Expressway, recovering 91,840 pills of tramadol hidden inside the vehicle’s body compartments. The driver, 27-year-old Aminu Ali, was taken into custody.

In Oyo State, a suspect identified as Bankole Bari was arrested on March 17 at Oke-Oyan in Ibarapa Local Government Area with 71.2 kilogrammes of skunk believed to have been smuggled into Nigeria from Benin through the Oyan River.

Further seizures were recorded in Kaduna State where NDLEA operatives recovered 586,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 from Lawal Anas along the Kaduna–Zaria highway. Another suspect, Musa Shuaibu, was arrested at the same location with 7,290 tablets of tramadol 225mg.

In Taraba State, NDLEA officers intercepted Aliyu Adamu along the Takum–Jalingo highway with 77,660 capsules of tramadol being transported to Gombe State.

Meanwhile, in Yola, six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 82.8 kilograms of tramadol concealed in a truck. Those arrested include Ramatu Aliyu, Jungudo Abdullahi, Najid Abdullahi, Musa Mohammed, Usman Abdulrahim and Musa Mohammed.

Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said it also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools and communities nationwide.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.) commended officers of the agency’s commands involved in the arrests and seizures. He urged them to sustain the balanced strategy of enforcement and public sensitisation in tackling drug abuse and trafficking across the country.

NDLEA Foils Drug Smuggling Attempts at Lagos Airport, Seizes Large Consignments Across Nigeria