NDLEA intercepts cocaine, tramadol hidden in vehicle side mirrors at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol 225mg concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors being sent to Libreville, Gabon, through the export shed of the Lagos International Airport, with not less than three suspects linked to the cargo already arrested in follow-up operations.

A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday said the first batch of the consignment, consisting of 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.60kg, was intercepted in a cargo going to Gabon on Air Côte d’Ivoire on 19th July 2025.

A popular cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, who handled the shipment, was immediately arrested. Further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect, Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah, on 20th July.

The statement said eleven parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 1kg were later recovered from four additional side mirrors being prepared for export and found in the home of Uzochukwu on 21st July, bringing the total number of cocaine parcels to 68, weighing 2.60 kilograms.

In a related development, NDLEA operatives on Friday arrested a businesswoman, Mrs Nwafor Roseann Nneka, at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, following the interception of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine—a cutting agent—concealed in ladies’ lipsticks bound for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, through the export shed of the Lagos airport on 10th July 2025.

Two cargo agents linked to the shipment were earlier arrested before the eventual arrest of Nneka, who reportedly runs the criminal trade as a family business with her husband, Remigus Nwafor, currently on the run. In her statement, Mrs Nwafor admitted that she bought the lipsticks used to conceal the illicit drugs, while her husband handled the actual concealment.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives, conducting intelligence-led stop-and-search operations in the Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas of the FCT on 30th July, arrested three dispatch riders—Sabo Sule, Samuel Nnamdi, and Idris Jibrin—for distributing illicit substances around the city. A total of 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, was recovered from them.

Two other suspects, Aliyu Abubakar and Adekunle Agbabiaka, were arrested along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg of skunk—a strain of cannabis—on Saturday. On the same day in Lagos, NDLEA officers, acting on intelligence, arrested Joseph Michael in Mushin with 3.3 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis. They also arrested Ibrahim Sulaiman in the Iwaya area of Yaba on Friday, 1st August, with 16.5 litres of skuchies.

No fewer than 100,000 pills of tramadol capsules were seized from a suspect, Hussein Yusuf, at an NDLEA checkpoint along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road in Benue State on Friday, while operatives in Edo State on the same day raided a warehouse in Ekpoma where a suspect, William Alabi, was arrested and 233.5kg of skunk recovered.

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In Borno State, NDLEA operatives at the arrival hall of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport (MBIAM), Maiduguri, on Friday, intercepted a consignment of 160 pills of tramadol concealed in footwear by a 38-year-old passenger, Umar Aminu, who was promptly arrested.

While NDLEA operatives in Ogun State on 1st August raided the Oja Odan area and arrested a female suspect, Yahaya Aminat Seyi, with 7,218 pills of opioids, mainly tramadol, their counterparts in Oyo State nabbed Oladeji Saka with 77.5 kilograms of skunk at Asanike, Ibadan. Another suspect, Benson Izah, was arrested in Abraka, Delta State, with 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol and 14.4 litres of codeine.

In Bayelsa State, NDLEA officers on 1st August arrested 52-year-old Chief Emeka Opara and Onuoha Chidinma along Tantua Road, Amassoma, where a total of 41,705 tramadol capsules, among other assorted opioids, were recovered from their shop and residence. A suspect, Bashir Gambo, was also arrested at Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada LGA, Kano State, with 61kg of skunk.

Two suspects, Kabiru Ayinde and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, were arrested on 28th July in the Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town, Osun State, where 90kg of skunk, 36.3 grams of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus marked SMK 755 YF, and ₦228,200.00 in cash were recovered from them.

While commending the officers and men of the various Commands of the Agency for the arrests, seizures, and their dexterity, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), urged them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

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