By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
CRACKDOWN CONTINUES on drug trafficking as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended an automobile spare parts dealer, Levi Chidiebele Ubodoeze, over a foiled attempt to smuggle cocaine to Angola.
This arrest comes just weeks after he was declared wanted for the crime.
The operation began when NDLEA officers intercepted a shipment of two kilograms of cocaine hidden in vehicle propellers at a logistics company in Aspanda, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, on 21st February 2025.
Working alongside Angolan authorities, officials arrested the intended recipient, leading to the unmasking of the sender.
Ubodoeze was tracked to his residence in Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Lagos, where he attempted to flee in a KIA SUV.
A search of the vehicle uncovered 75.50 kilograms of phenacetin, a cocaine-cutting agent, disguised as semolina. A digital scale for drug measurement was also seized from his home.
During interrogation, he admitted his involvement in cocaine trafficking while operating a motor spare parts business in Ladipo Market, Mushin. He revealed that his Angolan counterpart’s arrest prompted him to escape.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), NDLEA operatives intercepted a shipment of cannabis-infused candies imported from the UK.
The consignment, meant for sale at a kiddies’ shop in Surulere, Lagos, arrived via Allied Airways on 27th February. Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of a potent cannabis strain.
The recipient, Adedamola Taylor, was arrested on 4th March following the earlier detention of a freight agent.
He claimed his UK-based brother, Babatunde Alabi, had sent the package for delivery to Musurat Lawal, who manages the kiddies’ shop.
A subsequent raid led to Lawal’s arrest.
In Lagos, two men, China Michael and Igbo Ekene, were arrested in Ojo with 128kg of Ghanaian Loud cannabis concealed in a truck’s undercarriage.
Another three suspects were apprehended in Mushin with 301,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids.
Again, in Kano, authorities arrested 65-year-old Yahaya Haruna with 19.2kg of skunk and 60-year-old Musa Bello (alias Jajere) with 212 bottles of codeine syrup in separate operations.
At Abia, a warehouse raid in Aba led to the recovery of 442,594 tramadol pills and 1,274 bottles of codeine syrup.
The owner, Blessing Okoronkwo, was taken into custody.
In Benue, two suspects, Nwaeze Onyeabor and Tombo Thomas, were arrested at Ugbema Junction with 50,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5.
Also in Osun, a drug bust in Modakeke resulted in the seizure of 162kg of skunk, while a separate operation in Ede recovered 95kg of the same substance from a Toyota Camry.
Moreover, in Edo, NDLEA operatives raided Amahor community forest, destroying 3.8 hectares of cannabis farms. A suspect, Etim Esien Stephen, was arrested at the scene.
While law enforcement intensifies its crackdown, NDLEA also continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitisation programs in schools, workplaces, and religious centres. Awareness sessions were recently held in Enugu, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Adamawa.
Commending the NDLEA teams, Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised their commitment to tackling both drug supply and demand. He reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to dismantling drug networks nationwide.
