Desperate attempts by drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) to smuggle illicit substances such as cocaine, tramadol, Loud, Molly, and others—concealed in prayer beads, board game packs, and female clothing—to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and the UAE have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
At least two suspects linked to these failed operations at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, have been arrested. One of them, a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, was caught at Gate ‘C’ departure hall while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday, March 8, 2025. A search of her luggage revealed 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and a parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis. She admitted to purchasing the drugs herself for resale in Italy.
At the airport’s export shed, NDLEA officers arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, on Tuesday, March 11, while trying to ship clothing stuffed with 400 grams of skunk to New York, USA.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, and tramadol hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female clothing, bound for the U.S. Other shipments, including 230 grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, shoe soles, and board game packs headed to Saudi Arabia, Poland, and the UAE, were also seized between March 10 and 12.
In Kano, a 40-year-old suspect, Hassan Haruna, was caught with 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg at Chalawa on March 12. Additionally, 58,300 tramadol pills were intercepted on a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja along the Kabba-Obajana highway in Kogi State on March 11.
Further NDLEA raids led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, in Kaduna’s Kachia area on March 13, where 4,900 tramadol pills were seized. Another operation in Hayin Banki, Kaduna North LGA, on March 14 led to the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji, from whom 2,900 tramadol tablets were recovered.
Additional arrests included two suspects, Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan, caught with 40,200 tramadol tablets along the Ilorin-Jebba Expressway in Kwara on March 14. Another suspect, Salisu Usman, was nabbed along the Eiyenkorin Expressway, Ilorin, with 21,700 tramadol capsules on March 13.
In Taraba, operatives arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, on March 14 in Bente Road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77kg of skunk. In Osun, NDLEA intercepted a commercial bus from Lagos carrying 48.7kg of cannabis strains (Ghanaian Loud, Colorado, and Canadian Loud) near King University, Ode-Omu, on March 13. Nine suspects were arrested in Osogbo and Ile-Ife in connection with the seizure.
A 58-year-old suspect, Ade Esan (aka Pastor), was arrested on March 11 along the Gwagwalada Expressway, Abuja, with 27,800 tramadol pills, while Usman Mohammed, 26, was caught with skunk and cocaine in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, the same day.
In Abia, NDLEA operatives raided Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, on March 15, arresting Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money), 34, with 274 grams of heroin, 141 grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis, 4 grams of cocaine, and ₦753,015 in cash.
Meanwhile, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization programs across schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities, including U.P.E School (Lagos), Government Day Secondary School (Adamawa), Agbegi High Grammar School (Kogi), Capital City Secondary School (Anambra), and Eso-Obe Comprehensive High School (Ekiti).
Commending the officers for their efforts, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised their commitment to tackling drug trafficking through both enforcement and awareness initiatives.