NDLEA seizes 1,960kg of cannabis at lagos beach, arrests six foreigners 

By Sodiq Adelakun

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made a significant drug bust on Christmas Eve, seizing 1,960 kilograms of cannabis, also known as “Ghanaian Loud,” at Eleko Beach in Lekki, Lagos. 

The drugs were smuggled from Ghana via the waterways, with six foreign nationals arrested during the operation.

In a statement on Sunday released by NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the agency confirmed that the illicit drugs were discovered in two boats at 2:30 a.m. on December 24, 2024. 

The six suspects apprehended during the operation were identified as two Ghanaians, Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33), and four Beninese nationals: Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21).

The NDLEA’s Marine Command conducted the successful interception as part of a heightened effort to clamp down on drug trafficking along Nigeria’s coastline. The cannabis haul was concealed in large parcels, a method commonly used for smuggling illicit substances.

Babafemi also revealed that in a separate operation, a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Arthur, was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on December 22, 2024. 

Arthur was attempting to board an Air France flight to Paris when he was flagged during passenger clearance for refusing a body scan. After being subjected to excretion observation, Arthur expelled 74 wraps of Class A drugs over seven days. 

He claimed to be promised 3,000 Euros for delivering the drugs to Paris.

In other parts of the country, the NDLEA’s vigilance led to multiple arrests in Katsina and Benin City. In Katsina, two suspects were apprehended with large quantities of compressed cannabis sativa. 

Ibrahim Shaibu, 35, was arrested with 35kg of cannabis at the Central Motor Park, while Umar Ahmed, 47, was caught with 13.5kg along the Zaria-Malumfashi road. 

In Benin City, 21-year-old Kosisochukwu Ozigbo was arrested with over 30,000 pills of tramadol and codeine-based syrups.