By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
ATTEMPTS BY international drug trafficking syndicates to smuggle illicit substances hidden in prayer beads, clothing, and board game packs to destinations including the United States of America (USA), Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The agency confirmed the interception of multiple shipments at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and logistics firms operating in the city.
Two suspects linked to these illegal consignments have been arrested.
On Saturday, 8 March 2025, NDLEA officers at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of MMIA apprehended Jakpor Egware May, a 43-year-old businesswoman, attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy.
A search of her luggage led to the discovery of 190 parcels of Tramadol 225mg and one parcel of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.
She later admitted to purchasing the drugs herself for resale in Italy.
Similarly, on Tuesday, 11 March, officers at the MMIA export shed arrested 60-year-old Yahaya Fatai Ayinla as he attempted to ship a cargo containing clothes used to conceal 400 grams of skunk to New York, USA.
At logistics firms in Lagos, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted over two kilograms of illicit drugs—including Loud, Molly, and Tramadol 365mg and 225mg—hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female clothing.
Further discoveries included 230 grams of cocaine ingeniously concealed in prayer beads, locally made shoe soles, and board game packs bound for Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE.
In separate operations across Nigeria, NDLEA also made significant seizures:
▪️Kano State (12 March): 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were seized, and suspect Hassan Haruna, 40, was arrested in Chalawa.
▪️Kogi State (11 March): 58,300 Tramadol pills were intercepted on the Kabba-Obajana highway from a commercial bus en route to Abuja from Lagos.
▪️Kaduna State (13–14 March):
▪️Idris Hamza, 21, was arrested with 4,900 Tramadol 225mg pills in Kachia.
▪️Aminu Magaji, 25, was found in possession of 2,900 Tramadol 225mg tablets in Kaduna North LGA.
▪️Kwara State (13–14 March):
▪️40,200 Tramadol 225mg tablets were seized from Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along the Ilorin–Jebba expressway in Bode Saadu.
▪️21,700 Tramadol capsules were recovered from Salisu Usman at Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin.
▪️Taraba State (14 March): Polycarp Adeku, 35, was arrested at Bente Road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77kg of skunk.
▪️Osun State (13 March): NDLEA intercepted a commercial bus from Idumota, Lagos Island, near King University, Ode-Omu, carrying 48.7kg of Ghanaian Loud, Colorado, and Canadian Loud cannabis strains.
Nine suspects were arrested in follow-up operations in Osogbo and Ile-Ife.
The NDLEA also made more arrests and seizures in FCT Abuja on 11 March.
Ade Esan, aka “Pastor,” 58, was arrested along the Gwagwalada expressway with 27,800 Tramadol 225mg pills.
Usman Mohammed, 26, was detained in Wuse Zone 3 with quantities of skunk and cocaine.
Abia State (15 March): A raid in Ntigha, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, led to the arrest of Chinaza Nwogu, aka “Young Money,” 34, in possession of 274 grams of heroin, 141 grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, 4 grams of cocaine, and N753,015 in cash.
NDLEA commands across the country have sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, workplaces, and communities.
Recent outreach efforts included lectures at educational institutions such as U.P.E School, Ilara Epe (Lagos), Government Day Secondary School, Jigalambu (Adamawa), Agbegi High Grammar School, Dekina (Kogi), Capital City Secondary School, Awka (Anambra), and Eso-Obe Comprehensive High School, Ikoro Ekiti (Ekiti).
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers of MMIA, DOGI, and the agency’s commands in Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and the FCT for their operational successes.
He highlighted their commitment to reducing drug supply and addressing demand through enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
