As the fight against drug peddlers continues across the country, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted the efforts of drug traffickers following the seizure of hard drugs including cocaine and high-dose tramadol hidden inside 71 vehicle side mirrors.
The Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the NDLEA carried out the successful operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, bound for Libreville, Gabon.
Meanwhile, three suspects linked to the consignment have been arrested.
According to Babafemi, the first batch, intercepted on 19 July 2025, contained 57,420 tramadol 225mg capsules and 57 cocaine pellets weighing 1.60kg.
Cargo handler Ihekweme Benedict was arrested, leading to the capture of Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah the next day.
A further 1kg of cocaine in four side mirrors was found at Chukwurah’s home on 21 July, bringing the total seizure to 2.60kg.
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On 1 August, operatives arrested Mrs Nwafor Nneka at her shop in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos. She was linked to 100g of cocaine and 300g of phenacetine hidden in ladies’ lipsticks intercepted on 10 July.
Two cargo agents were earlier arrested. Nneka admitted buying the lipsticks, while her husband, still at large, concealed the drugs.
In Abuja, three dispatch riders — Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28 — were caught on 30 July distributing 149.8g of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain.
Two others were stopped on 2 August along the Abaji–Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg of skunk.
In Lagos, Joseph Michael was arrested in Mushin with 3.3kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis variant, while Ibrahim Sulaiman was held in Iwaya, Yaba, with 16.5 litres of skuchies.
Elsewhere, 100,000 tramadol capsules were seized from Hussein Yusuf, 37, in Benue State; 233.5kg of skunk from William Alabi, 44, in Edo State; and 160 tramadol pills hidden in footwear from Umar Aminu, 38, at Maiduguri Airport.
In Ogun, Yahaya Seyi was arrested with 7,218 opioid pills in Oja Odan. In Oyo, Oladeji Saka, 54, was caught with 77.5kg of skunk in Ibadan. In Delta, Benson Izah, 40, was found with 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol and 14.4 litres of codeine in Abraka.
In Bayelsa, Chief Emeka Opara, 52, and Onuoha Chidinma, 25, were arrested with 41,705 tramadol capsules in Amassoma. In Kano, Bashir Gambo, 30, was caught with 61kg of skunk in Yar Yasa. In Osun, Kabiru Ayinde, 40, and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were arrested with 90kg of skunk, 36.3g of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus and ₦228,200 cash in Iwo.
NDLEA also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) outreach, holding awareness sessions in schools, religious centres, transport hubs and communities across several states.
Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Retd) commended the officers for their efforts and urged them to sustain the momentum in the agency’s drug control campaign.
