The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled multiple drug trafficking networks, arrested a wanted drug kingpin, and recovered a staggering haul of illicit substances concealed in everyday household items such as microwaves and lipsticks.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted a shipment of “Loud”, a potent strain of cannabis, ingeniously hidden in microwaves imported from Thailand. The seizure, which occurred on Monday, July 7, 2025, followed a tip-off and led to the arrest of one Ezenwegbu Chike. The cargo, brought in on Ethiopian Airlines from Bangkok via Addis Ababa, yielded 23 parcels weighing 11.3kg.
Barely a week after NDLEA foiled a similar drug concealment attempt involving 84 cocaine-stuffed female lipsticks en route to the UK, the agency uncovered another consignment of cocaine hidden in lipsticks. The package, bound for Malabo, Guinea, contained 400 grams of cocaine and phenacetine, a cutting agent. A Lagos-based trader, Ezeikwelume Prince Afam, was arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.
The NDLEA also apprehended notorious drug kingpin Okechukwu Izugha, alias Okey Omeogo, at his wife’s shop in Ijesha Market, Lagos, on July 9. Izugha had gone underground for a year after being linked to a 9kg cocaine seizure in 2024. His arrest followed the earlier conviction of his wife, Maureen Izugha, who was caught with 500 grams of cocaine in January 2025.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Edo State destroyed over 28,000kg of cannabis (skunk) on three large-scale farms in the Ewere Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA. The operation, conducted on July 8, turned violent when armed cartel members ambushed officers. The agency successfully repelled the attack without casualties, although one operational vehicle was riddled with bullets.
In Lagos, 1,400 compressed blocks of Ghana Loud cannabis, weighing 700kg, were intercepted at Okun-Ajah Beach, and two suspects — Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul — were arrested along the Ajah-Epe Expressway with additional illicit substances including methamphetamine and Molly.
In coordinated operations across Borno, Gombe, and Taraba States, NDLEA operatives recovered 722,875 pills of opioids such as tramadol, pentazocine, and rohypnol. Arrests included:
- Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine in Maiduguri.
- Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu with 10,000 tramadol pills.
- Five suspects arrested with 116,226 pills of opioids in Gombe.
- Three men — Auwal Ibrahim, Lukman Ibrahim, and Hamza Adamu — caught with 577,890 pills of opioids and over 1kg of cannabis concealed in a petrol tanker in Taraba.
In Kogi State, Sabiu Bala was arrested with 316.6kg of skunk along Okene-Lokoja road. Similarly, Haladu Suleiman was caught in Kaduna with 58.8kg of cannabis.
In Kano, NDLEA officers arrested three suspects — Shamsudini Abdullahi, Adamu Abdullahi, and Magaji Rabo — with 48.1kg of skunk at Janguza Barracks area.
As part of its drug demand reduction efforts, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign in schools across Cross River, Kano, Enugu, Lagos, Anambra, and Abia States, engaging students, staff, and traditional rulers.
Commending the gallant efforts of operatives across multiple commands, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), applauded the agency’s dedication to striking a fair balance between drug supply suppression and public health advocacy.
“The agency is unrelenting in its resolve to dismantle every layer of the drug trafficking chain, from the farms to the street corners, the airports to the international courier routes,” Marwa stated.
The NDLEA’s operations mark a significant blow to transnational drug networks and reaffirm its commitment to safeguarding the health and security of Nigerians.
