The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully intercepted multiple attempts to smuggle illicit drugs to destinations including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates. These operations, conducted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and various logistics firms, led to significant seizures and arrests.
Key Incidents:
- March 8, 2025: A 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, was apprehended at the MMIA while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy. Upon inspection, officials discovered 190 parcels of tramadol (225mg) and an additional parcel of skunk (a strain of cannabis) concealed in her luggage. May admitted to purchasing the drugs with the intent to resell them in Italy.
- March 11, 2025: At the airport’s export shed, a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, was arrested while trying to ship a consignment containing clothes used to conceal 400 grams of skunk destined for New York, USA.
- March 10-12, 2025: NDLEA operatives intercepted various shipments at Lagos logistics companies. These included over two kilograms of illicit drugs such as loud, molly, and tramadol (365mg and 225mg) hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female clothing intended for the U.S. Additionally, 230 grams of cocaine were found concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes, and packs of board games, with destinations including Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE.
Additional Seizures:
- Kano State: On March 12, 2025, NDLEA operatives arrested a 40-year-old suspect, Hassan Haruna, in the Chalawa area. They recovered 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479 kilograms.
- Kogi State: On March 11, 2025, along the Kabba-Obajana highway, 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted from a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja.
- Kaduna State: On March 13, 2025, in Kachia, a suspect named Idris Hamza, 21, was arrested with 4,900 pills of tramadol (225mg). Another operation on March 14 in Hayin Banki area led to the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji, from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol (225mg) were recovered.
- Kwara State: On March 14, 2025, along the Ilorin-Jebba expressway at Bode Saadu, NDLEA operatives seized 40,200 tablets of tramadol (225mg) from suspects Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan. Additionally, on March 13, 21,700 capsules of the same opioid were recovered from a suspect, Salisu Usman, along the Eiyenkorin expressway in Ilorin.
- Taraba State: On March 14, 2025, officers arrested 35-year-old Polycarp Adeku on Bente road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77 kilograms of skunk.
- Osun State: On March 13, 2025, operatives intercepted a commercial bus near King University, Ode-omu, seizing 48.7 kilograms of various strains of cannabis, including Ghanaian Loud, Colorado, and Canadian Loud.
- Abia State: On March 15, 2025, a raid in Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North Local Council, led to the arrest of 34-year-old Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money). Recovered items included 274 grams of heroin, 141 grams of methamphetamine, 2.931 kilograms of cannabis sativa, four grams of cocaine, and a monetary exhibit of N753,015.00.
These operations underscore NDLEA’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and ensuring public safety across Nigeria.
