NDLEA Arrests Fleeing Auto Spare Parts Dealer Over 77.50kg Cocaine, Phenacetin Seizure
…Intercepts Cannabis Candies Meant for Lagos Kiddies’ Shop, Seizes Large Quantities of Opioids in Nationwide Raids
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended an automobile spare parts dealer, Levi Chidiebele Ubodoeze, over his involvement in a foiled attempt to export two kilograms of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola.
The arrest comes barely three weeks after the agency launched a manhunt for him following the seizure of the illicit consignment at a logistics company located at Aspanda, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, on 21st February 2025.
According to the NDLEA, swift coordination with Angolan authorities led to the arrest of the intended recipient of the cocaine in Angola, which subsequently uncovered the identity of Ubodoeze as the sender.
Acting on this intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, 6th March 2025, tracked Ubodoeze to his residence at Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Lagos. He was caught attempting to flee in a KIA Sport Utility Vehicle.
A search of the vehicle revealed 75.50 kilograms of phenacetin, a cocaine-cutting agent, disguised as semolina. Further searches of his residence also led to the recovery of a digital scale used for weighing illicit drugs.
In his statement, Ubodoeze admitted to trafficking cocaine while running a motor spare parts business at Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos. He disclosed that the recipient in Angola had warned him of his arrest, prompting his attempt to evade capture before NDLEA operatives swooped in.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a cargo of cannabis-laced candies imported from the United Kingdom.
The consignment, intended for a Kiddies Mart at 46 Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos, was seized on 27th February 2025 upon arrival via Allied Airways.
Subsequent forensic analysis confirmed that the candies were infused with a potent strain of cannabis. Following investigations, the shipment’s recipient, Adedamola Taylor, was arrested on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, after the initial apprehension of a freight agent.
Taylor claimed that the consignment was sent by his UK-based brother, Babatunde Alabi, for delivery to Musurat Lawal, who manages the Kiddies’ shop owned by Alabi. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Musurat.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives in Lagos arrested two suspects, China Michael and Igbo Ekene, on Friday, 7th March 2025, when their commercial truck was intercepted at Shibiri, Ojo.
A search uncovered 248 compressed blocks of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 128kg, concealed in the truck’s undercarriage.
Also in Lagos, three suspects — Osinachi Nwachukwu, Tochukwu Okafor Christian, and John Ugochukwu Mbakwe — were arrested at Mosalasi Junction, Mushin, on 7th March with 301,600 tramadol pills and other opioids.
In Kano, NDLEA officers arrested 65-year-old Yahaya Haruna on Thursday, 6th March 2025, with 19.2kg of skunk along Gadar Tamburawa Road.
Similarly, 60-year-old Musa Bello (alias Jajere) was nabbed with 212 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Medile, Kumbotso Local Council.
In Abia State, operatives raided the home and warehouse of 37-year-old Blessing Okoronkwo at 19 Ubani Street, Aba, on Tuesday, 4th March 2025. The operation yielded 442,594 tramadol pills, other opioids, and 1,274 bottles of codeine syrup.
In Benue State, NDLEA operatives seized 50,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 from two suspects — Nwaeze Onyeabor, 47, and Tombo Thomas, 23 — after intercepting their vehicle at Ugbema Junction, Katsina Ala, on Wednesday, 5th March 2025.
In Osun State, 50-year-old Asimiyu Muibi was arrested on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, with 162kg of skunk at Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area.
On the same day, 95kg of skunk was recovered from a Toyota Camry marked KSF 72 GW during a raid in Ede.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided a cannabis farm at Amahor community forest, Igueben, on Wednesday, 5th March 2025, arresting 55-year-old Etim Esien Stephen. The operation led to the destruction of 9,514.625kg of skunk cultivated on 3.805846 hectares of farmland.
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns continued nationwide.
The agency conducted awareness lectures at Model High School, Amaechi, Enugu; Bengy Secondary School, Agege, Lagos; Sunshine Secondary School, Nku Udo Eno, Akwa Ibom; and Government Day Secondary School, Dong, Adamawa State.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Abia, Benue, Osun, and Edo Commands for their operational successes.
He praised their balanced approach to reducing drug supply and demand, emphasising that such results affirm the agency’s unwavering commitment to tackling drug abuse and trafficking across the nation.
