Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered multiple drug trafficking attempts across the country, including the arrest of a woman who faked a pregnancy to smuggle opioids and an Ivorian national who excreted 82 wraps of cocaine at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The agency said a 35-year-old businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, was intercepted on February 16 at the Seme border while attempting to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic. Although she appeared heavily pregnant, a search revealed the protruding belly was fabricated using a calabash strapped to her abdomen to conceal 3,200 capsules of tramadol intended for sale abroad.

On the same day at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, NDLEA officers arrested a 41-year-old Ivorian, Michael Gohouri, during passenger clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa. A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit substances. He later excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms while under observation. Investigations revealed he had arrived in Lagos from Milan in January and was to be paid €5,000 upon successful delivery of the drugs in Italy.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trans Fortress Global Resources, Kolapo Oladapo Raji, at his Lekki residence following months of surveillance. The 57-year-old suspect, who had been on the agency’s watchlist since 2025, was found with 89.2 kilograms of “Canadian Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, and a 2024 Toyota Hilux vehicle. He reportedly admitted financing drug consignments before establishing his own distribution network.

Other operations across Lagos led to the seizure of 56kg and 76kg of skunk from suspects arrested in Agbara and Oshodi respectively.

At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with Customs and other security agencies, uncovered 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup in a container flagged for full physical examination based on intelligence.

Along the Okene/Lokoja highway in Kogi State, operatives recovered 7,300 tramadol pills concealed in audio equipment on a commercial bus. A follow-up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of two suspects linked to the consignment.

In Ondo State, 393 kilograms of skunk were seized from two suspects arrested in forest enclaves. In Bauchi State, operatives confiscated 936 kilograms of cannabis from a suspect in Azare town, with additional seizures made from other accomplices.

Similarly, in Delta State, 37kg of skunk was recovered from a suspect in Ughelli, while in Edo State, NDLEA officers destroyed over 1,266 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on three farms in Owan West Local Government Area and arrested two suspects, including a 68-year-old grandmother.

The agency also continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign in schools and communities across several states.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers involved in the operations, praising their sustained efforts in curbing drug supply and reducing demand across the country.