NDLEA Arrests Thai Woman with 46.6kg of Cannabis at Lagos Airport, Foils UK-Bound Trafficking Attempt
…As Agency Intercepts Ghanaian Loud Shipments, Seizes 49,000 Tramadol Pills
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 24-year-old Thai national, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, for attempting to smuggle 46.6kg of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, into Nigeria.
In a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, the Agency stated that the illicit drug consignment was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, concealed in her luggage.
The arrest took place on Thursday, 20th February 2025, during the inward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar.
Upon interrogation, Wimonnat confessed to being a hired courier, revealing that she was promised a payment of $3,000 upon successful delivery of the drugs.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of Lagos Airport foiled a trafficking attempt involving 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud, weighing 42.2kg.
The illicit consignment was ingeniously concealed within the walls of crated cartons bound for London, UK. Three suspects, including a freight agent and two dispatch riders, were initially apprehended.
Further investigations led to the swift arrest of the mastermind, Samuel Bitris, at his residence in Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos.
Meanwhile, at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA officers intercepted a 40ft container carrying 49 cartons of tramadol pills, amounting to 49,000 tablets of Tamol 225mg.
The seizure occurred during a joint operation with officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies on Thursday, 20th February.
In Nasarawa State, two suspects, Bello Adamu (40) and Pius Azuka (42), were arrested with 517kg of skunk at Kokona/Keffi on Saturday, 22nd February.
Additionally, in Niger State, two more suspects, Usman Ruwa (43) and Yunusa Haruna (45), were caught transporting 62.7kg of skunk in a Toyota Corolla along the Sabon Asibiti Road, Kontagora, on Thursday, 20th February.
Beyond these enforcement operations, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation efforts across various institutions nationwide.
Schools such as Maku Grammar School, Tapa, Oyo State; Comprehensive Secondary School, Orogwe, Imo State; Jama’atu Islamiyya Secondary School, Ankpa, Kogi State; and Owerri-Aba Primary School, Ugwunagba, Imo State, benefitted from awareness lectures aimed at educating students and staff on the dangers of drug abuse.
Commending the officers and men of the MMIA, PHPC, Niger, and Nasarawa Commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded their dedication to the fight against drug trafficking.
He emphasised the agency’s unwavering commitment to a balanced approach in reducing both drug supply and demand across the country.
The NDLEA said it remains resolute in its efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and curb illicit drug abuse, reinforcing national security and public health.
