NDLEA foils major drug smuggling operations, seizes over 1m opioid pills
…Agency’s crackdown leads to multiple arrests, uncovers large quantities of illegal substances nationwide
By Sodiq Adelakun
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully thwarted several major drug smuggling attempts, recovering over one million opioid pills in raids across multiple states.
In one of the largest seizures in recent months, the agency uncovered a significant shipment of illegal substances, including tramadol, codeine syrup, and cocaine, with a series of arrests across the country.
According to NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, a major breakthrough occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on December 15, 2024, when the agency intercepted 256 wraps of cocaine weighing 6 kilograms.
The drugs were concealed in the body of a suspected trafficker, Olisaka Chibuzo Calistus, an import-export businessman.
This seizure marks the largest interception of cocaine at the airport since the establishment of the MAKIA Command in 2006.
Babafemi revealed that the suspect, who had arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, was caught after undergoing a body screening, which led to the discovery of the cocaine pellets.
“The drugs were cleverly hidden, but our operatives were vigilant in their search,” Babafemi stated.
Similarly, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, a failed attempt to export a consignment of Rohypnol to South Africa was also thwarted.
The suspect, Olanrewaju Bada Akorede, had previously been convicted for a similar crime earlier in 2024. He was apprehended after trying to ship the drugs concealed in a cargo containing garri, shoes, and men’s singlets.
Despite being convicted and fined for a previous attempt, Akorede had returned to repeat the crime.
Another significant arrest was made on December 18, 2024, when Italy-based businesswoman Cynthia Akaeen was intercepted at the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Italy. She was found with 9,190 tablets of tramadol, weighing 6 kilograms.
Additionally, a large haul of drugs was discovered during a raid at a building material market in Onitsha, Anambra State, on December 17. The operation led to the recovery of 418,330 pills of tramadol and 8,000 bottles of codeine syrup.
In a separate operation at the Tincan Island port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, working with other security agencies, recovered 180,000 bottles of codeine syrup from a container originating from India.
Further arrests were made in Maiduguri, Borno State, where operatives seized 293,000 capsules of tramadol, firearms, and live ammunition from two suspects, Ishaya Wabba and Samaila Audu, on December 16. Another suspect, Sanusi Abdul Hamid, was arrested in the Gwange area of Maiduguri with 260,000 capsules of tramadol.
In Enugu and Oyo states, NDLEA officers also seized substantial quantities of cannabis, while a consignment of ephedrine, a precursor chemical, was intercepted at a vehicle park in Lagos.
Babafemi emphasised that these operations are part of the ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), which has included sensitization programs in schools and communities nationwide.
“The NDLEA remains committed to disrupting the activities of drug traffickers and ensuring the safety and health of Nigerian citizens,” he said.
