NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine, Tramadol Hidden in Side Mirrors at Lagos Airport

O Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted cocaine and tramadol consignments cleverly concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

The shipment was bound for Libreville, Gabon through the airport’s export shed, and at least three suspects have been arrested in follow-up operations.

The interception revealed 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.60kg. The cargo was scheduled to depart on Air Côte d'Ivoire. NDLEA operatives immediately arrested Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, a well-known cargo agent managing the shipment. Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah, on Sunday, July 20. A subsequent raid at Uzochukwu’s home on Monday, July 21, led to the discovery of 11 additional parcels of cocaine weighing 1kg, hidden in four more side mirrors. This brought the total cocaine seizure to 68 parcels weighing 2.60 kilograms.

In another development, NDLEA officers arrested a businesswoman, Mrs. Nwafor Roseann Nneka, on Friday, August 1, at her shop inside the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos. Her arrest followed the earlier seizure of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine concealed in ladies’ lipsticks intended for export to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The illicit consignment was intercepted at the Lagos airport on July 10. Two cargo agents linked to the export were first arrested before Nneka’s arrest. She admitted to purchasing the lipsticks used in the concealment, while her husband, Remigus Nwafor—now on the run—was responsible for hiding the drugs.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, NDLEA operatives conducting targeted operations on Wednesday, July 30, arrested three dispatch riders: Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28) in the Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas. They were caught distributing illicit substances, and 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, were recovered. Elsewhere in the FCT, two suspects, Aliyu Abubakar (25) and Adekunle Agbabiaka (30), were arrested along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway on Saturday, August 2, with 91.1kg of skunk, another high-grade cannabis strain.

Back in Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Joseph Michael with 3.3kg of Colorado (a synthetic cannabis variant) in Mushin on Saturday, August 2. Similarly, Ibrahim Sulaiman was nabbed on Friday, August 1, in Iwaya, Yaba, with 16.5 litres of skuchies, a locally mixed drug cocktail.

In Benue State, Hussein Yusuf (37) was arrested at an NDLEA checkpoint along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road on Friday, August 1, with 100,000 tramadol capsules.

In Ekpoma, Edo State, NDLEA raided a warehouse on the same day and arrested William Alabi (44), recovering 233.5kg of skunk.

In Maiduguri, Umar Aminu (38) was intercepted at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport (MBIAM) on Friday, August 1, with 160 pills of tramadol hidden in footwears. In Ogun State, a raid in Oja Odan on Friday, August 1, led to the arrest of Yahaya Aminat Seyi, a female suspect in possession of 7,218 opioid pills, mostly tramadol.

In Oyo State, Oladeji Saka (54) was apprehended with 77.5kg of skunk in Asanike, Ibadan. In Delta State, Benson Izah (40) was caught in Abraka with 12.5kg skunk, 1kg tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine. In Bayelsa State, Chief Emeka Opara (52) and Onuoha Chidinma (25) were arrested on Tantua Road, Amassoma, where NDLEA recovered 41,705 tramadol capsules and other opioids from their shop and home. In Kano State, Bashir Gambo (30) was arrested in Yar Yasa, Tudun Wada LGA with 61kg of skunk.

On Monday, July 28, in Osun State, NDLEA officers arrested Kabiru Ayinde (40) and Roqeeb Adekanmbi (25) in Ile-Ogbo, Iwo town, seizing 90kg skunk, 36.3 grams methamphetamine, a Toyota bus (SMK 755 YF), and ?228,200 in cash.

Meanwhile, NDLEA formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts. Awareness campaigns were conducted at Ciroma Ibrahim Islamiyya School (Potiskum, Yobe); Sultan Maccido Institute (Wamakko, Sokoto); Borno Express drivers (Maiduguri); Seventh Day Adventist Church (Abakpa Nike, Enugu); and the palace of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi (Osun).

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and men of the MMIA, MBIAM, FCT, Lagos, Benue, Kano, Osun, Delta, Edo, Oyo, Ogun, and Bayelsa Commands. He urged them to remain committed to the Agency’s balanced and sustained approach to drug control.