The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully intercepted multiple illicit drug consignments concealed in prayer beads, board game packs, and female clothing, destined for the United States, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. This development was revealed in an official statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, 16th March 2025. The statement highlighted the arrest of two suspects at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and the agency’s continued crackdown on drug trafficking networks across the country.
Among those apprehended in connection with the failed drug trafficking attempts is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May. She was arrested at Gate ‘C’ departure hall of MMIA on Saturday, March 8, 2025, while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy. Upon searching her luggage, NDLEA officials discovered 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and a parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis. She confessed to purchasing the drugs herself with the intention of reselling them in Italy.
Similarly, on Tuesday, March 11, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Lagos airport arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, while he was attempting to send a cargo containing clothing used to conceal 400 grams of skunk to New York, United States. In other operations at Lagos-based logistics companies, attempts to export over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, and tramadol concealed in Vitamin C bottles and female clothing to the US were foiled. Additional shipments of 230 grams of cocaine hidden in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes, and board game packs destined for Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE were also intercepted between Monday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 12.
The agency’s relentless efforts extended beyond Lagos. In Kano state, NDLEA operatives arrested a 40-year-old suspect, Hassan Haruna, in the Chalawa area on Wednesday, March 12, with 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg. Meanwhile, 58,300 tramadol pills were intercepted on a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja along the Kabba-Obajana highway in Kogi state on Tuesday, March 11.
In Kaduna, two separate operations led to the arrests of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 tramadol 225mg pills on Thursday, March 13, and Aminu Magaji, 25, with 2,900 tramadol tablets on Friday, March 14, in the Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LGA. Similarly, NDLEA intercepts drugs in Kwara state, 40,200 tramadol tablets from two suspects, Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan, along the Ilorin-Jebba expressway on Friday, March 14. Another suspect, Salisu Usman, was caught along the Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin, with 21,700 tramadol capsules on Thursday, March 13.
The crackdown extended to Taraba state, where NDLEA operatives arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, in Kurmi LGA on Friday, March 14, with 15.77kg of skunk. In Osun state, on Thursday, March 13, NDLEA intercepted a commercial bus at King University, Ode-Omu, which was carrying 48.7kg of Ghanaian Loud, Colorado, and Canadian Loud—all strains of cannabis. Subsequent follow-up operations led to the arrest of nine suspects in Osogbo and Ile-Ife.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested a 58-year-old suspect, Ade Esan (aka Pastor), along the Gwagwalada expressway on Tuesday, March 11, with 27,800 tramadol 225mg pills. Another suspect, Usman Mohammed, 26, was caught the same day at Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, with various quantities of skunk and cocaine. Meanwhile, in Abia state, a raid in the Ntigha community of Isiala-Ngwa North LGA on Saturday, March 15, led to the arrest of Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money), 34, with 274 grams of heroin, 141 grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, 4 grams of cocaine, and N753,015 in cash.
Beyond enforcement actions, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative by conducting sensitization programs in schools, religious centers, workplaces, and communities nationwide. Recent enlightenment lectures were held at U.P.E School, Ilara Epe, Lagos; Government Day Secondary School, Jigalambu, Michika, Adamawa state; Agbegi High Grammar School, Dekina, Kogi state; Capital City Secondary School, Awka, Anambra state; and Eso-Obe Comprehensive High School, Ikoro Ekiti, Ekiti state.
Commending the operatives involved in these successful raids and arrests, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised their efforts in drug supply reduction and demand reduction. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to a balanced approach in curbing drug abuse and trafficking across Nigeria.
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