Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recorded major successes in a series of coordinated operations across Nigeria, intercepting illicit drugs concealed in unusual items, dismantling supply networks, and arresting several suspects.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA officials uncovered 12 parcels of cocaine weighing 2.80kg hidden in the false bottom of food flasks bound for the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic flight. Three suspects, including two cargo agents and a freight forwarder, were arrested in connection with the shipment.

In a separate operation at the airport, officers intercepted 2.90kg of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in snack packs arriving from the United States. Investigations led to the arrest of two clearing agents and the consignee, a 29-year-old fashion designer, during a follow-up raid in Lagos.

Further operations across the country yielded significant drug seizures. In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck transporting 847kg of cannabis hidden among cement bags along the Kaduna–Zaria highway, leading to the arrest of the driver.

In Cross River State, a joint operation involving NDLEA officers and soldiers led to the destruction of 15,000kg of cannabis cultivated on six hectares of farmland, with an additional 119kg recovered and a suspect arrested.

Similarly, in Edo State, operatives raided a cannabis farm in Ovia North East LGA, destroying over 2,281kg of the substance and arresting three suspects. In Delta State, two individuals were apprehended with 87.8kg of cannabis and seeds.

In Lagos, authorities arrested two suspects along the Mile 2–Badagry expressway while transporting 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection intended for illegal export to Ghana. Another raid on Lagos Island resulted in the recovery of 95.8kg of cannabis from a residential building.

The agency also intensified its nationwide anti-drug advocacy campaign, conducting awareness programmes in schools, religious centres, and communities across multiple states.

NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers for their efforts in disrupting drug trafficking networks while sustaining public sensitisation campaigns, urging continued momentum in the fight against illicit drug activities.