The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency announced on Sunday that its operatives intercepted 500 grammes of cocaine concealed within the pages of religious books destined for Saudi Arabia at a courier service in Lagos State.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed this in a statement on Sunday, noting the seizure occurred on April 15.
He further stated that 2.8 kilogrammes of cannabis and a strain of Loud were also intercepted at another courier firm in Lagos on the same day.
Babafemi explained, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency intercepted a shipment of cocaine hidden in 20 sets of religious books en route to Saudi Arabia.
“The cocaine consignment, comprising 20 parcels weighing a total of 500 grammes and concealed in the pages of the religious books, was discovered at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, when NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation searched export cargoes bound for Saudi Arabia at the logistics firm.
“At another courier company on the same day, NDLEA officers intercepted five parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 2.8 kilogrammes, concealed in a carton originating from the United States of America.”
Babafemi also disclosed the arrest of at least 10 suspects during various operations conducted by its operatives nationwide.
Among those apprehended was a suspected bandit supplier, Muhammad Mohammed, who was caught in Kano, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulaziz, was arrested with 68 blocks of skunk.
He elaborated, “In Kano, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bichi-Kano Road apprehended Muhammad Mohammed, a 22-year-old who supplies illicit substances to bandits. He was heading to Katsina with 277 ampoules of pentazocine injection strapped to his thigh and private part with Sellotape.
“He was intercepted on Sunday, April 13, while another suspect, Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdulaziz, 43, was nabbed the same day at Research Rimin Kebe area of Nasarawa, Kano, with 68 blocks of skunk, a cannabis strain, weighing 30kg.”
Babafemi added that “operatives recovered not less than 557.2kg of skunk, 5.6kg of methamphetamine, and 29.8 grammes of heroin from a house along Major General Isaiah Allison Street, Opolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where they arrested four suspects during a raid on Wednesday, April 16.
“The four suspects arrested during the raid include: Sarimiye Suwa Kurtis, 46; Roland Prosper, 34; Sarimiye Tare Paul, 45; and Fidelis Ugbesla, 46.”
Babafemi stated that operatives arrested a driver after recovering approximately 1,100kg of skunk from a delivery van in Lagos, while they apprehended Ike Ani in Kaduna at a hideout with 31,950 pills of Tramadol 225mg and Diazepam.
The NDLEA spokesperson noted that three suspects, Abubakar Ibrahim, 50; Mustapha Aliyu, 32; and Bashar Lawali, 28, were arrested in connection with the seizure of 97kg of skunk concealed in sacks of charcoal in Kebbi.
“A 48-year-old, Okafor Marcel, was nabbed with 11.5kg of skunk at Abatete, Anambra State, while NDLEA operatives in Osogbo, Osun State, on Tuesday, April 15, arrested Ajala Mercy, 27, with 43 litres of skushi, a mixture of blackcurrant, cannabis, and opioids, recovered from her room at Dada Estate, Halleluyah area of the state capital.
“NDLEA operatives raided two cannabis farms in Egbeta Forest, Ovia North East LGA, Edo State, destroying 3,717.8625kg of the psychoactive plant across 1.487145 hectares and recovering 136.5kg of processed cannabis.
“At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested Basorun Usman Kayode, 40, a suspect who had been at large for two years in connection with the seizure of 107kg of Loud imported from Canada in 2023. They also arrested Dauda Yakubu, who distributes illicit drugs within the seaport community, on Monday, April 14,” Babafemi concluded.
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