Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple illicit drug consignments destined for the United States, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. The drugs, including cocaine, tramadol, and cannabis variants such as Loud and Molly, were concealed in prayer beads, board game packs, and female clothing.

Two suspects linked to the smuggling attempts at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, have been arrested. One of them, Jakpor Egware May, a 43-year-old businesswoman, was apprehended on March 8, 2025, at the airport’s Gate ‘C’ departure hall while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy. A search of her luggage revealed 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and a parcel of skunk. She admitted to purchasing the drugs for resale in Italy. On March 11, 2025, NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport’s export shed arrested Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, 60, while he was attempting to ship 400 grams of skunk concealed in clothing to New York, USA. Similar drug exports, including over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, and tramadol 365mg and 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female clothing, were intercepted at logistics companies in Lagos. Other shipments of 230 grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, shoe soles, and board game packs en route to Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE were also seized between March 10 and 12.

In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from Hassan Haruna, 40, who was arrested in the Chalawa area on March 12. Similarly, 58,300 tramadol pills were intercepted on March 11 along the Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi State, in a commercial bus en route to Abuja. NDLEA operatives also conducted successful raids in Kaduna, leading to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, in Kachia with 4,900 tramadol 225mg pills on March 13 and Aminu Magaji, 25, in Hayin Banki, Kaduna North LGA, with 2,900 tramadol 225mg tablets on March 14. In Kwara, 40,200 tramadol 225mg tablets were seized from Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along the Ilorin-Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, while 21,700 tramadol capsules were intercepted from Salisu Usman along the Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin, on March 13.

Further arrests were made in Taraba State, where Polycarp Adeku, 35, was caught with 15.77kg of skunk at Bente Road, Kurmi LGA, on March 14. In Osun State, a commercial bus from Lagos was intercepted near King University, Ode-Omu, carrying 48.7kg of Ghanaian Loud, Colorado, and Canadian Loud. Follow-up operations in Osogbo and Ile-Ife led to the arrest of nine suspects. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ade Esan (aka Pastor), 58, was arrested on March 11 along the Gwagwalada expressway with 27,800 tramadol 225mg pills, while Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed the same day in Wuse Zone 3 with quantities of skunk and cocaine. In Abia State, NDLEA operatives raided Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, on March 15, arresting Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money), 34, with 274 grams of heroin, 141 grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis, 4 grams of cocaine, and N753,015 in cash.

Meanwhile, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities, engaging schools, workplaces, and communities across the country. Lectures were held at U.P.E School, Ilara Epe, Lagos; Government Day Secondary School, Michika, Adamawa; Agbegi High Grammar School, Dekina, Kogi; Capital City Secondary School, Awka, Anambra; and Eso-Obe Comprehensive High School, Ikoro Ekiti, Ekiti.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers in MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and FCT Commands for their relentless efforts. He emphasized the agency’s balanced approach in tackling drug trafficking through supply reduction and demand reduction strategies.