The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its war on drug trafficking with arrests and seizures in Lagos, Zamfara, Adamawa, Edo, Yobe, and Taraba States.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, operatives intercepted two passengers who ingested narcotics before leaving Brazil.
On September 16, NDLEA officers arrested Ofoma Sunday, 46, after he arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from São Paulo. A body scan showed he had swallowed drugs. Under observation, he excreted 111 wraps of heroin weighing 1.45 kg. A sting operation at a hotel in Amuwo Odofin later led to the arrest of Nweke Jude Chukwudi, 55, who was scheduled to collect the drugs.
On September 19, Ukachukwu Frank Ikechukwu arrived from Brazil via Addis Ababa. A scan confirmed drug ingestion, and he expelled five wraps of cocaine weighing 145 g. He confessed that he had carried nine wraps but flushed two in Ethiopia after suffering severe anal pain.
READ ALSO: NDLEA Seizes N3.99bn Tramadol, Arrests Indian, Nigerian Businessman
On September 14, NDLEA operatives working with Aviation Security arrested Ebere Theresa Okolonkwo as she attempted to board a Qatar Airways flight to Doha. Officers found two parcels of methamphetamine weighing 1.40 kg hidden in her padded underwear.
At the same airport, NDLEA also seized:
- 2.3 kg of methamphetamine hidden in food items bound for Hong Kong.
- 257 g of cocaine concealed in seven phone chargers headed to New Zealand.
Nationwide operations also produced major drug busts:
- Adamawa: NDLEA recovered 233,800 pills of tramadol in three raids, including 195,600 abandoned in a vehicle in Yola South.
- Zamfara: Officers seized 1,099 kg of skunk from a truck on the Gummi–Daki Takwas road and arrested one suspect.
- Yobe: Two suspects were caught with 14,000 tramadol capsules along the Damaturu–Potiskum road.
- Taraba: A 28-year-old suspect was found with 25.5 kg of skunk in Bali LGA.
- Edo: Two cannabis farms covering over 4.5 hectares, capable of producing 11 tonnes of skunk, were destroyed in Owan West LGA. Three suspects were arrested.
READ ALSO: Troops Apprehend Suspected Drug Dealers, Recover Illicit Substances in Plateau
Beyond arrests, NDLEA expanded its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign in schools, mosques, churches, and workplaces across Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Benue, and Kano.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised the vigilance of his operatives.
“These arrests and seizures mark a significant milestone in our effort to dismantle drug cartels targeting Nigeria’s youth and damaging our global image. We will sustain this momentum until drug networks can no longer harm our communities,” Marwa said.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
