How Did NDLEA Foil Lagos Airport Drug Smuggling, Nationwide Seizures?

By Abraham Olatunbosun—

Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a number of illicit drug consignments concealed in various ways – including within carton walls, winter jackets and body cream containers – at Murtala Muhammed International Airport and a courier company in Lagos.

The anti-narcotics agency also reported significant seizures and arrests following coordinated operations in several states, including Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory, Taraba and Adamawa.

According to agency spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, intelligence-led operations successfully thwarted desperate attempts by drug trafficking organisations to smuggle opioids and methamphetamine to European countries.

In a statement released on Sunday, Mr Babafemi detailed how, last Friday, NDLEA officers at Lagos airport arrested 37-year-old Friday Ehianuka as he attempted to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome.

A search of his luggage revealed 2,698 tramadol 225mg pills hidden inside containers of skin-lightening body cream.

Ehianuka, a Milan resident, admitted he had been promised payment in euros for successful delivery of the drugs.

On March 18th, officers at the airport’s departure hall intercepted Christian Agbonhese, 38, preparing to board a Lufthansa flight to Milan.

A thorough search uncovered 28,470 opioid pills concealed within two large winter jackets. The seized drugs comprised 23,150 tramadol 225mg pills, 4,000 tapentadol 250mg tablets and 1,320 tramadol 100mg pills.

Elsewhere in Lagos, NDLEA operatives at a courier firm seized two parcels containing one kilogramme of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis shipped from the United States to Nigeria.

A further parcel containing 158 grammes of methamphetamine, concealed within the walls of a carton and destined for New Zealand, was also recovered.

In Kano, two suspects were arrested on March 18th with substantial 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, Lagos, led to the recovery of 21,737 bottles of codeine-based syrup. Simultaneously, 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 home of Akeem Idde, 37, in Ojah, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

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

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

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

In Taraba State, officers intercepted Aliyu Adamu along the Takum–Jalingo highway transporting 77,660 tramadol capsules to Gombe State.

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

Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA stated it is also intensifying its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools and communities nationwide.

Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, praised the officers involved in the arrests and seizures.

He urged them to maintain a balanced approach of enforcement and public awareness in tackling drug abuse and trafficking throughout the country.