NDLEA intercepts cocaine, loud, arrests fashion designer, others

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from the Lagos International Airport.

An NDLEA statement on Sunday said the cocaine consignment with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms was intercepted on 9th April 2026 by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport, while two cargo agents involved in the export bid, Ama Obinna Ufeim and Ogabi Monday Akorede were swiftly arrested.

Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent, Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, as the sender of the consignment and he was arrested in a follow-up operation.

In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on 8th April, intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms and concealed in snack food packs, which arrived from the United States of America aboard a Delta Airlines flight.

Two cargo clearing agents, Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji road, Ogba, Lagos, on 13th April.

In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kaduna-Zaria highway by Gwargwaje Zaria on 13th April intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa state. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver, Umar Garba Haruna was arrested in connection with the seizure.

A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested on Thursday, 16th April, when NDLEA officers, supported by soldiers, raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River state, where 15,000 kilograms of skunk on six hectares of farmland were destroyed and 119kg of the same substance recovered.

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Another cannabis farm was raided on 14th April at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo State where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of same psychoactive substance, while three suspects: Nweke Smart, Christopher Egbe and Monday Ayan were arrested, with the duo of Christopher and Monday caught with 38.5kg cannabis and its seeds.

Two suspects: Sunday Odili and Ijenebe Joshua were nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta state on Friday. In Lagos, two suspects: Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu were arrested on 15th April at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry expressway while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana.

Same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg skunk was recovered.

With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

While commending the officers and men of the Lagos International Airport, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd) noted that, their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.