NDLEA intercepts drugs hidden in vehicle mirrors, lipsticks, footwears
Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs concealed in unusual items, leading to the arrest of multiple suspects across several states.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, NDLEA operatives uncovered cocaine and tramadol 225mg cleverly hidden in 71 vehicle side mirrors intended for export to Libreville, Gabon, via Air Côte d’Ivoire. The interception, which occurred on Saturday, July 19, revealed 57,420 tramadol pills and 57 cocaine pellets weighing 1.60kg.
A cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, was arrested immediately. Follow-up operations led to the arrest of Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah the next day. An additional 11 parcels of cocaine (1kg) were found in four side mirrors at Uzochukwu’s residence on Monday, July 21, bringing the total seizure to 68 cocaine parcels weighing 2.60kg.
In a related incident, a woman identified as Mrs. Nwafor Roseann Nneka was arrested on Friday, August 1, at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos. She was linked to a shipment intercepted on July 10, where 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine, a cocaine adulterant, were concealed in ladies’ lipsticks bound for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Two cargo agents were earlier arrested, and Nneka confessed to purchasing the lipsticks, while her husband, Remigus Nwafor—currently at large—handled the concealment.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives arrested three dispatch riders—Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28)—on July 30 in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa, with 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain. Meanwhile, Aliyu Abubakar (25) and Adekunle Agbabiaka (30) were caught with 91.1kg of skunk along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway on August 2.
In Lagos, Joseph Michael was arrested in Mushin with 3.3kg of Colorado, a synthetic variant of cannabis, while Ibrahim Sulaiman was caught in Iwaya, Yaba with 16.5 litres of skuchies on August 1.
In Benue State, Hussein Yusuf (37) was caught with 100,000 tramadol capsules at a checkpoint along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road on August 1. That same day in Edo State, NDLEA raided a warehouse in Ekpoma, arrested William Alabi (44), and seized 233.5kg of skunk.
At the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri, Borno, officers intercepted 160 tramadol pills concealed in footwear from a passenger, Umar Aminu (38), on August 1.
Other arrests across the country include:
Ogun State: Yahaya Aminat Seyi found with 7,218 pills of opioids in Oja Odan.
Oyo State: Oladeji Saka (54) caught with 77.5kg of skunk in Asanike, Ibadan.
Delta State: Benson Izah (40) arrested in Abraka with 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine.
Bayelsa State: Chief Emeka Opara (52) and Onuoha Chidinma (25) arrested in Amassoma, with 41,705 tramadol capsules recovered from their shop and home.
Kano State: Bashir Gambo (30) found with 61kg of skunk in Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada LGA.
Osun State: Kabiru Ayinde (40) and Roqeeb Adekanmbi (25) apprehended in Ile-Ogbo, Iwo town, with 90kg of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus, and ₦228,200 cash seized.
NDLEA has reaffirmed its resolve to clamp down on drug trafficking networks nationwide and urged Nigerians to continue supporting its efforts in making communities drug-free.
