Crime
PHOTOS: NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine, Tramadol Hidden In Car Mirrors, Lipsticks, Footwears
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a series of high-profile arrests and seizures across Nigeria, including a major bust at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, where operatives intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol hidden in 71 vehicle side mirrors bound for Libreville, Gabon.
It was reports that the operation, which led to the arrest of at least three suspects, was one of several anti-narcotic actions taken nationwide between July 19 and August 2, 2025.
According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the first bust occurred on Saturday, July 19, when officers at MMIA intercepted 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine (1.60kg) in a cargo consignment heading to Gabon via Air Côte d’Ivoire.
A popular cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, was immediately arrested. Follow-up investigations led to the arrest of Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah the following day.
A further raid on Uzochukwu’s residence on July 21 yielded another 11 parcels of cocaine weighing 1kg, raising the total haul to 68 cocaine parcels (2.6kg).
Cocaine Disguised as Lipsticks for Export to Malabo
In a separate operation, a businesswoman, Nwafor Roseann Nneka, was arrested at her shop in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, for attempting to export 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine (a cutting agent) concealed inside ladies’ lipsticks to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Two cargo agents linked to the shipment had earlier been arrested before the NDLEA closed in on Mrs. Nwafor. She confessed to purchasing the lipsticks while her husband, Remigus Nwafor, now on the run, handled the drug concealment.
On July 30, operatives in Abuja arrested three dispatch riders, Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28), caught distributing drugs in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas. Recovered from them were 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain.
Two others, Aliyu Abubakar (25) and Adekunle Agbabiaka (30), were also arrested along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg of skunk.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, one Joseph Michael, was arrested in Mushin with 3.3kg of synthetic cannabis known as Colorado on August 2, while Ibrahim Sulaiman was caught in Iwaya, Yaba, with 16.5 litres of skuchies on August 1.
In Benue State, Hussein Yusuf (37) was arrested at an NDLEA checkpoint along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road with over 100,000 tramadol pills. In Edo, a raid on a warehouse in Ekpoma led to the arrest of William Alabi (44) and the seizure of 233.5kg of skunk.
More Seizures Across States
Borno: Umar Aminu (38) was arrested at the Maiduguri airport with 160 tramadol pills hidden in his shoes.
Ogun: Yahaya Aminat Seyi was nabbed in Oja Odan with 7,218 pills of opioids.
Oyo: Oladeji Saka (54) was caught with 77.5kg of skunk in Ibadan.
Delta: Benson Izah (40) was arrested in Abraka with 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine.
Bayelsa: Chief Emeka Opara (52) and Onuoha Chidinma (25) were arrested in Amassoma with 41,705 tramadol capsules.
Kano: Bashir Gambo (30) was arrested in Tudun Wada with 61kg of skunk.
Osun: Kabiru Ayinde (40) and Roqeeb Adekanmbi (25) were arrested in Iwo town with 90kg of skunk, 36.3g of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus, and ₦228,200 in cash.
NDLEA Sustains WADA Campaign Nationwide
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, and workplaces. Notable activities include:
Lecture at Ciroma Ibrahim Islamiyya School, Potiskum, Yobe
Outreach at Sultan Maccido Institute, Wamakko, Sokoto
Engagement with Borno Express Transport drivers
Sensitisation at Seventh Day Adventist Church, Enugu
Advocacy visit to Oluwo of Iwo, Osun State
Reacting, the NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended officers across the MMIA, MBIAM, FCT, Lagos, Edo, Benue, Kano, Osun, and other commands for their diligence, urging them to maintain momentum in the agency’s balanced drug control efforts.
“Our approach combines enforcement and advocacy, and every officer must remain committed to both arms of our strategy,” he said.
The operations reflect NDLEA’s continuing resolve to disrupt drug trafficking networks and safeguard communities across the nation.
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Crime
PHOTOS: N10 billion Cocaine, Loud, opioids intercepted at Lagos ports as NDLEA arrests kingpins
A 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who deals in clothing at the popular Balogun market, Lagos Island, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs going to the United Kingdom.
According to Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the agency, Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday 22nd July by NDLEA operatives.
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
Babafemi said in the course of investigation, three cargo agents identified as Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment, were initially arrested, leading to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.
The NDLEA spokesperson said Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
He mentioned that a 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, also involved in illicit drug trafficking, was on Tuesday, 21st July, arrested at her Surulere, Lagos residence by NDLEA operatives following the seizure of her consignment of 2.80kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on Monday, 20th July.”
NDLEA arrests Lagos businessman, others over N10 billion cocaine trafficking; intercepts consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap
In a related development, NDLEA officials seized a consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap heading to the UK. The shipment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, 22nd July.
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A man accused of stealing cables was paraded in the Amarata area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The suspect was apprehended in the early hours of Sunday, 26th July, 2026 by a vigilante group at Ompadec, Amarata, while allegedly stealing electrical cables from a home.
According to residents, cable theft has become a recurring problem in the area, leaving them feeling vulnerable.
They expressed relief following his apprehension.
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