…Uncovers new smuggling tricks, intercepts drug consignments across six states
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 43-year-old woman, Mrs Adekoya Mary, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after she was found in possession of 2.2 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden within the lining of her travel bag.
According to a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, Mrs Adekoya, who identified herself as a makeup artist, was en route to India via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight when NDLEA officers intercepted her on June 16. A detailed inspection of her luggage uncovered two parcels of cocaine carefully concealed within the bag’s lining.
Further investigation revealed that she had allegedly been recruited by a suspected drug kingpin, Akeem Adekanbi, who remains at large.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives uncovered two international drug consignments disguised as everyday household items at courier facilities in Lagos. One package destined for Australia contained 850 grammes of cocaine hidden in cloth hangers. Another parcel, concealed as a shipment of female dresses and headed for Bahrain, contained 1.3 kilogrammes of ‘loud’, a potent strain of cannabis.
Elsewhere in Bauchi State, two suspects, Ibrahim Galadima and Ibrahim Muhammed, were apprehended along the Bauchi–Darazo road while transporting over one million opioid pills. The haul included tramadol, diazepam, and Exol-5 tablets.
On June 17, enforcement officers intercepted Bishir Isyaku along the Kaduna–Zaria expressway. He was found with 14.2 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in charcoal sacks and an additional 198 kilogrammes of rubber solution packed in seven cartons.
In the Federal Capital Territory, six individuals were arrested in separate raids conducted on June 18 at Karu abattoir and Torabora communities. Officers recovered 6.9 kilogrammes of skunk and 59 grammes of methamphetamine during the operations.
On June 19, NDLEA officers in Kano State arrested 19-year-old Umar Hamisu and 32-year-old Dahiru Abdullahi along the Zaria–Kano road with 56.2 kilogrammes of skunk. Another suspect, Obiwuru Henry, was detained in Fagge Local Government Area with over 23,000 tramadol capsules and 1,400 ampoules of pentazocine.
In Kwara State, a 22-year-old polytechnic student, Olotin Nifemi, was apprehended in Ilorin on June 19 with one kilogramme of skunk. He was identified as a key supplier of narcotics to students in the region.
Further south, NDLEA personnel in Edo State raided a cannabis cultivation site in the Ugbada-Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA, on June 20. The operation led to the destruction of over 4.2 tonnes of skunk and the arrest of one suspect, Albert Shamaki.
A day earlier, officers stormed Big Jamaya supermarket in Esan West LGA, where they arrested Esther Abumere and seized various narcotics, including colorado, loud, molly, tramadol, and other opioids.
Another raid in Idumeka, Igueben LGA, led to the arrest of Eko Gift and the seizure of 1.143 kilogrammes of skunk from a provision shop.
Meanwhile, as part of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, the NDLEA continued its drug education campaign in secondary schools across Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kano, and Enugu states.
The agency also paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in Osun State, to enlist traditional and community support in the anti-drug crusade.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd), commended the agency’s officers for their consistent efforts to dismantle trafficking networks and stem the spread of narcotics across the country.