NDLEA Busts International Drug Syndicate, Seizes N4.4bn Worth Of Cocaine At Lagos Airport

Lagos, Nigeria – In a major victory against the illicit drug trade, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted an ambitious smuggling attempt by an international drug syndicate operating between Brazil, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.

The agency seized 18.72 kilogrammes of cocaine, worth an estimated N4.5 billion in street value, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

The discovery, made last Tuesday during the post-landing cleaning of an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET900 from Addis Ababa, involved 845 wraps of cocaine concealed within the two rear lavatories of the aircraft.

The illicit drugs, cleverly packaged in nine polythene bags and hidden in the waste collectors, were detected after the MMIA Strategic Command received an alert about suspicious objects.

NDLEA investigations revealed a complex operation involving ingestion and excretion. Couriers allegedly transported the drugs from Brazil to Ethiopia, where other traffickers picked them up and attempted to smuggle them into Nigeria through the Lagos airport. However, the vigilance of NDLEA officers, coupled with the cooperation of airline authorities and other airport stakeholders, successfully thwarted the smuggling attempt.

The agency has detained at least 30 suspects for questioning in relation to the seizure, signifying the scale of the international syndicate involved.

NDLEA’s Continued Crackdown on Drug Trafficking:

This significant seizure underscores the agency’s unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking. In addition to the Lagos bust, the NDLEA also reported successful operations across the country, including:

Interception of Cocaine, Cannabis, and Tramadol:  NDLEA officers blocked attempts by syndicates to export 2.93 kilogrammes of cocaine, cannabis, and tramadol to Australia, the United Arab Emirate, and the United Kingdom through various courier companies in Lagos.
Large-scale Seizure at Apapa Seaport: A targeted operation at the Apapa seaport yielded the seizure of 754,000 pills of tapentadol and acetaminophen, worth N525 million, concealed within a container arriving from India.
FCT Arrests: NDLEA operatives arrested Mujahid Hamisu with 147,000 pills of tramadol and Seun Abimbola with 512 grammes of methamphetamine in separate incidents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Kogi State Seizures: In Kogi State, officers apprehended Mercy Ameh with over ₦4.3 million worth of fake Naira notes, while Shaibu Dahiru was caught with 27.4 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Nationwide Operations: The NDLEA continues its “War Against Drug Abuse” campaign, with officers conducting sensitization lectures and advocacy visits in various communities, schools, workplaces, and religious institutions across the country.

Commendations and Recognition:

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), expressed his appreciation and commended the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Apapa, Kogi, FCT, Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Ondo, Taraba, and Edo Commands for their remarkable efforts in these recent successes. He also praised all NDLEA commands for their relentless pursuit of the “War Against Drug Abuse” through sensitization and advocacy initiatives.

This comprehensive news report highlights the NDLEA’s proactive approach to combatting the drug trade, disrupting international syndicates, and safeguarding the nation’s security and well-being. The agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and promoting drug awareness campaigns is crucial in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by the illicit drug industry.