The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered consignments of illicit drugs concealed inside water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos, as part of a series of operations that led to major drug seizures and arrests across the country.
The agency said its operatives intercepted the shipment at a courier company in Lagos on May 26, recovering three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, hidden within the water purifier machines.
The latest seizure highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by drug traffickers to evade detection and move illicit substances into the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said the drugs were carefully concealed in water purification machines imported from the Netherlands.
According to the agency, officers acting on intelligence uncovered the illicit substances during a routine examination of consignments at the courier facility in Lagos.
The seizure forms part of the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating through international courier and cargo channels.
Kaduna Raid Yields Over 1.2 Tonnes of Skunk
In a separate operation in Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested a couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, alongside another suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, 38, after recovering 100 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,246 kilograms.
The drugs were discovered during a raid on their residence in the Gonin Gora area of the state on May 24.
The agency described the seizure as one of the significant cannabis recoveries recorded in recent operations.
Also on May 24, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway at Jere intercepted a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, who was allegedly transporting 380 rounds of 7.62mm military-grade ammunition to Katsina State.
The agency said both the suspect and the recovered ammunition were handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and necessary action.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse located in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, where they recovered 457 kilograms of skunk on May 27.
Following investigations, a suspect identified as Godwin Zakka, 46, was later arrested at his residence in Gbeganu, Minna, in connection with the seizure.
The operation is part of intensified efforts by the agency to disrupt drug distribution networks operating within the state and neighbouring regions.
Tramadol, Pentazocine Seized in Enugu
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway intercepted a commercial vehicle travelling to Taraba State on May 28.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 22,000 tramadol pills, 100 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 grams of bromazepam.
One suspect, identified as James Maigari Wisdom, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
The agency noted that the operation underscores its determination to curb the movement of controlled and psychoactive substances across major transport corridors.
READ ALSO:
- NDLEA Uncovers Drugs Hidden in Water Purifiers, Intercepts Military-grade Ammunition
- NDLEA Busts Multi-Billion Naira Drug Network, Arrests 63-Year-old Chinese Woman
- NDLEA Arrests 93-Year-Old Man, Medical Doctor, others in Nationwide Drug Crackdown
- NDLEA Arrests Suspect, Seizes 1,499 Bottles of Codeine Syrup in Kano
Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA said its commands and formations nationwide have continued anti-drug abuse sensitisation programmes under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
The initiative targets schools, workplaces, religious centres and communities, with the aim of reducing drug demand and raising awareness about the dangers associated with substance abuse.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations in Kaduna, Niger and Enugu states, as well as personnel of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation.
He praised the officers for the successful arrests and seizures and urged personnel across the country to sustain efforts aimed at reducing the supply of illicit drugs while intensifying public enlightenment campaigns against drug abuse.
The latest operations underscore the agency’s continued crackdown on drug trafficking networks and its broader strategy of combining enforcement with preventive education to address Nigeria’s drug abuse challenge.
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.