Crime
NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others
NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted desperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations (DTO) to move illicit consignments such as Cocaine, Tramadol, Loud, Molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and the Lagos airport.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said at least, two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos have already been arrested. One of them is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor May who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday 8th March 2025.
Babafemi said when she was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage. In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy.
He said at the export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers last Tuesday arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400 grammes of skunk going to New York, United States of America.
Babafemi disclosed that at the some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilogrammes of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI.
The spokesman added that other shipments of 230 grammes of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.
In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479 kilogrammes were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect Hassan Haruna who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Chalawa area of the state last Wednesday, while no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi state in a commercial bus coming from Lagos en-route Abuja last Tuesday.
Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna state last Thursday led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him, just as a similar exercise in Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North local government area, last Friday resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered.
He said while a total of 40,200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara state last Friday, NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect Salisu Usman along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin last Thursday.
In Taraba state, NDLEA officers last Friday arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, at Bente road, Kurmi local government area, with 15.77 kilogrammes skunk, while in Osun state, operatives last Thursday, intercepted a commercial bus marked SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island in front of King University, Ode-omu, with a total of 48.7 kilogrammes Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis. Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.
A 58-year-old suspect Ade Esan (aka Pastor) was last Tuesday arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja. In Abia state, NDLEA operatives last Saturday raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North local government area, where a 34-year-old suspect Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money) was arrested with 274 grammes of heroin, 141 grammes of methamphetamine, 2.931 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, 4 grammes of cocaine and N753,015 monetary exhibit.
Meanwhile, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and FCT commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others
Army troops recover 97 rustled livestock, hand them over to owners in Kano
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the 1 Division, Nigerian Army, have recovered 97 rustled livestock from suspected terrorists in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State.
The operation was conducted at about 10:50 p.m. on Aug. 25, 2026, following a report of terrorist activities in Mai Nika Ward of the local government area.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops engaged the terrorists upon arrival, forcing them to flee and abandon 67 rustled livestock.
The troops subsequently conducted further exploitation of the area and recovered an additional 27 livestock.
The recovered animals, totalling 97, were later handed over to their owners in the presence of the Local Government Chairman and representatives of other security agencies.
The operation underscores ongoing efforts by security forces to protect rural communities, recover stolen property and deny criminal elements freedom of action across the 1 Division area of responsibility.
Army troops recover 97 rustled livestock, hand them over to owners in Kano
Troops Foil Armed Robbery Attack, Rescue Two Locals in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have foiled an attempted armed robbery attack along the Apel-Jipun road in Pushit District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on August 23, 2026, when troops responded to reports of gunshots allegedly fired by suspected armed robbers along the highway.
The troops swiftly mobilised to the area, forcing the gunmen to abandon their operation and flee into the surrounding area.
During the subsequent search of the location, the troops rescued two locals, identified as Samuel Dauda and Luka Daar, who were reportedly returning from Maraban on a motorcycle when they encountered the armed men.
Three empty cartridge cases of 7.62mm Special ammunition were recovered at the scene.
Following the incident, the troops intensified patrols along the highway and other strategic locations in the area to deter criminal elements and prevent further attacks on motorists and residents.
Security personnel have continued efforts to maintain security along the route and ensure the safety of commuters using the highway.
Troops Foil Armed Robbery Attack, Rescue Two Locals in Plateau
Troops Arrest Motorcycle Thief, Recover Stolen Motorcycle in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have arrested a suspected motorcycle thief and recovered a stolen motorcycle during a stop-and-search operation in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Zagazola Media Network gathered that the suspect, identified as Hosiah Alfred, was arrested at the Sabon Gari checkpoint in Mangu at about 5:50 a.m. on August 24, 2026.
The troops, operating under Operation HARD KNOCK, intercepted Alfred while he was travelling in a commercial vehicle reportedly en route to Duklin in Bauchi State from Abuja.
According to security sources, the troops became suspicious of the motorcycle in his possession and subjected him to questioning.
During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to stealing the motorcycle from a dispatch rider identified as Yusuf Gideon, who works for one Mr. Nonso in Abuja.
The suspect and the recovered motorcycle are currently in the custody of the troops for further investigation.
Security authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft, trace the rightful owner of the motorcycle and determine whether the suspect is linked to other criminal activities.
The development highlights the continued security checks being conducted along major routes in Plateau State to detect and prevent the movement of suspected criminals and stolen property.
Troops Arrest Motorcycle Thief, Recover Stolen Motorcycle in Plateau
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