Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and female clothing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos. The substances, destined for the United States, United Kingdom, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, led to the arrest of several suspects, including a cargo agent and a UK-based public health worker.
At least two suspects linked to the export attempts have been taken into custody. One of them, a cargo agent, Boladale Riliwan, was arrested on October 7, 2025, following the discovery of 15 parcels of skunk — a strain of cannabis — concealed in 10 pieces of giant rechargeable electrical bulbs he presented in a carton for air freight to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the export shed of the Lagos airport.
Another suspect in custody, 48-year-old Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot, a UK-based public health assistant, was arrested on October 12, 2025, at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, following the discovery of frozen snails used to conceal 2,300 pills of Tramadol 225mg in her luggage while heading to Manchester, United Kingdom, on a Qatar Airways flight.
An attempt by another syndicate to export 810 pills of bromazepam hidden in female clothes destined for the United States was also thwarted by NDLEA officers at a courier company in Lagos on October 16, 2025.
In Adamawa State, a suspect, Bello Buba, was intercepted at an NDLEA checkpoint in Namtari, Yola South LGA, with 38,270 pills of tramadol concealed in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of his Honda Civic car. He reportedly drove all the way from Benin Republic to smuggle the consignment into Nigeria on October 12, 2025.
Not less than 53,250 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on 21.3 hectares of a cannabis farm in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti State, while 70 bags of the same substance weighing 1,140kg were recovered by NDLEA operatives during an operation that lasted between October 12 and 13, 2025.
Suspects arrested include Matthew Emmanuel (26), James Moses (27), and Israel Samuel (20).
This followed the destruction of 17,400kg of skunk on 6.96 hectares of plantation by NDLEA operatives at Aponmu Forest Reserve, Akure, Ondo State, on October 12, 2025.
In Oyo State, Aliyu Muhammed (50), Babarinde Segun (32), Ogunbiyi Sanjo (30), and Ajani Oluro (30) were nabbed with 596kg of skunk at Apata-Ako, Igboora, while Jacob Afolabi (30) and Salako Oluwatobi (25) were arrested with 273kg of the same substance at Odo-Oyan, Igangan, on October 16, 2025.
In Ogun State, Joseph Andrew was arrested in possession of 88kg of skunk on October 15, 2025, by NDLEA operatives at Ona–Imeko, while another suspect, Festus Udoh (42), was nabbed with 13,000 pills of opioids along the Onitsha–Owerri Road, Imo State.
Similarly, a total of 74.5kg of skunk was recovered from the store of a suspect, Joseph Chukwujamaa, at Umuogbo–Agu village, Enugu State, on October 18, 2025.
In Lagos, no fewer than 11 bags of skunk weighing 117kg were recovered from the base of a suspect, Ramoni Olukowi, in the Mushin area on October 18, 2025, while a total of 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in a container earlier watch-listed by the NDLEA.
The shipment, which came from India, was seized during a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Apapa Port on October 14, 2025.
Meanwhile, NDLEA Commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities during the past week.
The advocacy campaigns were held in institutions including: Commercial Grammar School, Igogo (Ekiti); Junior Secondary Smart School, Kasarawa (Katsina); Government Technical College, Ahoada (Rivers); Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Yau Danzabuwa, Babura (Jigawa); Attarbiyya Community College, Hotoro (Kano); Fuga Mixed Secondary School, Fuga (Edo); St. Cyprian Special Science School, Nsukka (Enugu); and St. Peter’s College, Olomore (Ogun).
While commending officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa, Lagos, Ekiti, Adamawa, Oyo, Enugu, Ogun, Ondo, and Imo Commands for their arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged them and their colleagues nationwide not to relent in their balanced approach to the agency’s ongoing drug control efforts.
