The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have foiled multiple drug trafficking attempts across the country, including a case involving a woman who concealed drugs in a fake pregnancy and an Ivorian national who excreted 82 wraps of cocaine at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the operations were carried out at airports, border posts and several states as part of a coordinated crackdown on drug trafficking networks.
Babafemi said NDLEA officers intercepted a Kano-based businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, 35, while attempting to cross into Benin Republic with a visibly protruding stomach at the Seme land border.
He said a body search revealed that the pregnancy was fake, adding that the suspect had strapped a pink-coloured calabash around her waist and used it to conceal 3,200 capsules of tramadol.
“On the same day in Kano, NDLEA operatives at the screening point of the departure hall of MAKIA intercepted a 41-year-old Ivorian, Michael Gohouri, during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa,” the statement reads.
“A body scan confirmed that the suspect had ingested illicit substances. He was subsequently placed under observation and later excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilogrammes.”
The NDLEA spokesperson said Gohouri, also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael, had arrived in Lagos from Milan in January and moved between Lagos and Enugu before travelling to Kano, where he ingested the drugs in his hotel room.
According to Babafemi, the suspect reportedly told investigators that he was to be paid 5,000 euros upon delivery of the drugs in Milan.
“In Lagos, NDLEA operatives also arrested Kolapo Oladapo Raji, the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Trans Fortress Global Resources, at his residence in Ikate, Lekki,” he said,
“The 57-year-old real estate chief executive, who had been on the agency’s watchlist since 2025, was arrested shortly after returning from the United Kingdom (UK).
“A search of his apartment led to the recovery of four large bags containing 89.20 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, as well as a 2024 model Toyota Hilux.”
According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Raji admitted that he ventured into the drug trade after financing consignments for an overseas associate and later set up his own distribution channel following what he described as huge financial returns.
“In another operation in Lagos, Ugwuja Kingsley was arrested with 56kg of skunk at Agbara, while Ekwe Arinze was caught with 76kg of the same substance at a motor park in Oshodi,” he said.
“At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state, NDLEA said a total of 170,900 bottles of codeine-based syrup were discovered inside a container during a joint examination with customs and other security agencies.
“In Kogi state, NDLEA operatives recovered no fewer than 7,300 pills of tramadol concealed inside two sound systems during a search of a commuter bus along the Okene–Lokoja highway.
A follow-up operation in Zuba, Abuja, led to the arrest of two suspects linked to the consignment, Ezenma Kingsley, 26, and Ezeja Anthony, 29.
“In Ondo state, Bright Timothy, 28, was arrested at Iju forest with 195kg of skunk and seeds, while another suspect, Godwin Bernard, was arrested with 198kg of the same substance during raids on their forest enclaves.
“In Bauchi state, NDLEA seized a total of 936kg of skunk from Yahaya Adamu Gimba, 48, at Azare town in Katagun LGA. Another 85.8kg of the substance was also recovered from Gimba and three other suspects, Nasiru Suleman, 36, Abdul Umar, 25, and Musa Suleman, 21.
“In Delta state, 37kg of skunk was seized from Mgbeme Ejeoma, 34, at Club Street, Ekeredjebor, Ughelli.
“In Edo state, NDLEA officers raided Etiosa camp in Owan West LGA, where 1,266.8475kg of skunk was destroyed on three cannabis farms. A further 23kg of processed cannabis was recovered, while two suspects — Evelyn Ogenewu, a 68-year-old grandmother, and Friday Iruoje, 43 — were arrested.”
Babafemi said NDLEA commands across the country also sustained their war against drug abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities in states including Oyo, Yobe, Imo, Gombe, Cross River, Kano and Lagos.
While commanding officers of the various commands involved in the operations, Buba Marwa, the NDLEA chairman, said the agency’s recent successes reflect a balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction nationwide.
