Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended two brothers, John Abugu (43) and Kenneth Abugu (31), at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 5 kilograms of cocaine to India. The illicit substance was discovered concealed within the walls of their suitcases. The suspects claimed they were traveling for medical treatment, but NDLEA officers uncovered the drugs during a routine search based on credible intelligence on Thursday, 3 April 2025.

On the same day, NDLEA operatives at the MMIA Strategic Command arrested a 20-year-old Ghanaian-British national, Parker Darren Hazekia Osei, during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand. He was found in possession of 36 parcels of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 19.4 kilograms. Osei, who claimed to be a Computer Science student at East London University, confessed that he picked up the drug consignment in Bangkok for delivery in Nigeria.

In another operation, NDLEA officers in Kogi State intercepted a 33-year-old woman, Ngozi Ogili, transporting 3 kilograms of methamphetamine from Lagos to Abuja. She was arrested in a commercial bus along the Okene-Lokoja highway on 31 March 2025. A follow-up raid in the Apo Mechanic area of Abuja led to the seizure of additional quantities of synthetic cannabis strains, including Loud and Colorado.

In Abia State, a 75-year-old man, Nna Nnanna Felix, was arrested on 5 April with 1.6 kilograms of skunk during a raid in Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West LGA. Similarly, 21-year-old David Chinemerem was found with 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine during a search operation at 7 Nnajiego Lane, Umuode Road, Aba, on 1 April.

In Yobe State, NDLEA operatives seized 381 bottles of codeine syrup and 108 tablets of tramadol from a suspect, Abdullahi Adamu, along the Potiskum-Damaturu road on 5 April. Concurrently, coordinated raids in Osogbo motor park, Onitsha, and Oba, Idemili LGA of Anambra State led to the arrest of Obinna Sunday and the confiscation of 195,000 tramadol pills. Another suspect, Ugochukwu Ojalanonye, was arrested with 4.2 kilograms of codeine syrup and 5.4 kilograms of pentazocine.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 51-year-old Sunday Ayogu was apprehended during a raid at Wuse Market, Abuja, with 25 kilograms of skunk and 90.4 grams of methamphetamine. On 4 April, NDLEA operatives, with the support of the Nigerian Army, also arrested Faith Effiong Etim (64) and Victoria Asuquo Etim (40) during a raid in Esuk-Odot community, Odukpani LGA, Cross River State. Over 250,000 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed across more than 100 hectares of farmland.

Meanwhile, the Agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign across the country. Sensitization programs were held at Cave City Secondary School, Ogidi (Anambra); Dan’iyau village in Batagarawa LGA (Katsina); and among members of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers in Sangere and Kwanan Waya (Adamawa State).

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and commands involved in the successful operations. He lauded their balanced approach to both drug supply reduction and demand reduction, emphasizing that their efforts are recognized and appreciated nationwide.