NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine, Opioids Concealed in Prayer Beads and Board Games Bound for US, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland
…Arrests Two Suspects and Recovers Large Quantities of Skunk, Heroin, and Tramadol Across Seven States and FCT
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple shipments of illicit drugs, including cocaine, tramadol, loud, and molly, concealed in prayer beads, board games, and clothing, destined for the United States, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates.
The successful operation led to the arrest of two suspects at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and the recovery of significant drug consignments across Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In a statement released by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, 16th March 2025, the agency detailed the coordinated operations that disrupted the drug trafficking network.
On Saturday, 8th March 2025, NDLEA officers arrested a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy.
Upon searching her luggage, officials discovered 190 parcels of tramadol (225mg) and a parcel of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. Egware admitted to purchasing the drugs herself with the intent to resell them in Italy.
Three days later, on Tuesday, 11th March, another arrest was made at the export shed of the Lagos airport. A 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, was caught attempting to ship 400 grams of skunk hidden in clothing to New York, United States.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives at logistics companies in Lagos intercepted over two kilograms of loud, molly, and tramadol (365mg and 225mg) concealed in Vitamin C bottles and female clothing destined for the US.
Further shipments of 230 grams of cocaine, hidden in prayer beads, shoe soles, and board games, headed for Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE, were intercepted between 10th and 12th March.
In Kano State, NDLEA officers recovered 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg from a 40-year-old suspect, Hassan Haruna, who was arrested at Chalawa on Wednesday, 12th March.
In Kogi State, 58,300 tramadol pills were seized from a commercial bus along the Kabba-Obajana highway en route to Abuja on Tuesday, 11th March.
Kaduna State witnessed two separate arrests during targeted raids. On Thursday, 13th March, 21-year-old Idris Hamza was arrested in Kachia with 4,900 tramadol pills (225mg).
The following day, 25-year-old Aminu Magaji was arrested in Hayin Banki, Kaduna North LGA, with 2,900 tramadol tablets (225mg).
In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 40,200 tramadol tablets from two suspects, Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan, along the Ilorin-Jebba expressway on Friday, 14th March.
Another 21,700 capsules of the opioid were seized from Salisu Usman along the Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin, on Thursday, 13th March.
In Taraba State, officers arrested 35-year-old Polycarp Adeku with 15.77kg of skunk at Bente Road, Kurmi LGA, on Friday, 14th March.
In Osun State, a commercial bus coming from Idumota, Lagos Island, was intercepted on Thursday, 13th March, in front of King University, Ode-Omu, with 48.7kg of Ghanaian Loud, Colorado, and Canadian Loud. Nine suspects were arrested during follow-up operations in Osogbo and Ile-Ife.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives arrested 58-year-old Ade Esan, known as “Pastor,” on Tuesday, 11th March, along Gwagwalada expressway with 27,800 tramadol pills (225mg). On the same day, 26-year-old Usman Mohammed was arrested in Wuse Zone 3 with varying quantities of skunk and cocaine.
In Abia State, NDLEA officers raided the Ntigha community in Isiala-Ngwa North LGA on Saturday, 15th March, leading to the arrest of 34-year-old Chinaza Nwogu, also known as “Young Money.”
He was found in possession of 274 grams of heroin, 141 grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, four grams of cocaine, and cash totalling N753,015.
NDLEA also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign across the country. The agency held enlightenment lectures in several schools, including U.P.E. School, Ilara Epe, Lagos; Government Day Secondary School, Jigalambu, Michika, Adamawa State; Agbegi High Grammar School, Dekina, Kogi State; Capital City Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State; and Eso-Obe Comprehensive High School, Ikoro Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the operatives in Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and FCT for their diligence and operational successes.
He emphasised that the agency’s dual approach of drug supply reduction and demand reduction is crucial in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria.
Brig. Gen. Marwa affirmed NDLEA’s unwavering commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and ensuring a drug-free society.
