By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
PELLETS OF narcotics and tramadol capsules concealed in vehicle side mirrors bound for Libreville, Gabon, were intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, with three suspects arrested during follow-up operations.
According to the Agency, the consignment, hidden in 71 vehicle side mirrors and destined for export via Air Côte d’Ivoire, was seized on Saturday 19th July 2025.
Officers said they also uncovered 57,420 tramadol 225mg pills and 57 cocaine pellets weighing 1.60kg.
Cargo agent Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict was immediately arrested. Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah on Sunday 20th July.
NDLEA operatives later recovered another 1kg of cocaine hidden in four more side mirrors during a search of Uzochukwu’s residence on Monday 21st July, raising the total cocaine weight to 2.60kg.
In a connected operation, officers on Friday 1st August apprehended Mrs Nwafor Roseann Nneka at her shop in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos.
Her arrest followed the earlier interception of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine concealed in ladies’ lipsticks shipped to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 10th July.
Two cargo agents linked to the concealment had already been arrested. Mrs Nwafor confessed to procuring the lipsticks while her husband, Remigus Nwafor, who is now on the run, handled the concealment process.
NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 30th July arrested three dispatch riders during intelligence-led stop-and-search operations across Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa in Abuja.
The suspects, Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28) were caught distributing illicit substances, with 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud cannabis recovered.
On Saturday 2nd August, two additional suspects, Aliyu Abubakar (25) and Adekunle Agbabiaka (30), were arrested on the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg of skunk.
In Lagos, Joseph Michael was apprehended in Mushin on 2nd August with 3.3kg of Colorado cannabis, while Ibrahim Sulaiman was nabbed in Iwaya, Yaba, on Friday 1st August with 16.5 litres of skuchies.
That same day in Benue, 100,000 tramadol capsules were recovered from a suspect, Hussein Yusuf (37), at an NDLEA checkpoint along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road.
Edo Command operatives on 1st August raided a warehouse in Ekpoma where 233.5kg of skunk was seized and William Alabi (44) arrested.
In Borno State, officers at the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri, intercepted a consignment of 160 tramadol pills concealed in footwears carried by Umar Aminu (38), who was arrested on arrival.
In Ogun, Yahaya Aminat Seyi was arrested at Oja Odan with 7,218 pills of opioids, mostly tramadol. In Oyo, Oladeji Saka (54) was arrested in Asanike, Ibadan with 77.5kg of skunk.
In Delta, NDLEA operatives apprehended Benson Izah (40) in Abraka with 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine.
Further arrests were made in Bayelsa where Chief Emeka Opara (52) and Onuoha Chidinma (25) were picked up along Tantua road, Amassoma, with 41,705 tramadol capsules recovered from their premises.
In Kano, Bashir Gambo (30) was nabbed in Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada LGA, with 61kg of skunk.
In Osun State, Kabiru Ayinde (40) and Roqeeb Adekanmbi (25) were arrested on 28th July in the Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo with 90kg of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus marked SMK 755 YF, and ₦228,200.00 cash as exhibits.
The Agency confirmed that its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) outreach continued across the country during the week. Sensitisation sessions were held for students and staff of Ciroma Ibrahim Islamiyya School, Potiskum; Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’an and General Studies, Wamakko; metro drivers in Maiduguri; worshippers at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Abakpa Nike, Enugu; and traditional leaders including a WADA advocacy visit to the Oluwo of Iwo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised the MMIA, MBIAM, FCT, Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Benue, Kano, and Osun Commands for their vigilance, successful seizures, and enforcement operations.
He urged officers nationwide to maintain a balanced strategy in the Agency’s ongoing drug control efforts.
