China-bound trader arrested with cocaine as NDLEA records N12.4bn drug bust

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a series of major breakthroughs in its nationwide anti-narcotics operations, including the arrest of a China-bound businesswoman with 7.5 kilograms of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the seizure of illicit drugs worth over N12.3 billion at Apapa Port, and the dismantling of a syndicate that plants drugs in the luggage of unsuspecting interstate passengers.

The operations, carried out across Lagos, Abuja and Anambra States, also led to the arrest of three suspected transnational drug traffickers transporting more than 558,000 pills of Tramadol concealed in a specially fabricated compartment of a truck.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi, the 38-year-old suspect, Iwebema Ogechi Peace, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Beijing, China.

The suspect, who claimed she frequently travels to China to purchase goods for resale in Nigeria, was intercepted on Sunday, June 21, following credible intelligence.

A thorough search of her checked luggage revealed four large parcels of cocaine weighing 7.5 kilograms concealed in a professionally constructed false bottom compartment of her suitcase.

In another major operation, NDLEA operatives attached to two Special Operations Units successfully intercepted a shipment of 4,959 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N12.397 billion.

The illicit consignment, packed in 195 large sacks inside a 40-foot container carrying two vehicles—a Ford and a Nissan—was recovered during a joint examination involving NDLEA officers, the Nigeria Customs Service, other security agencies and port stakeholders at the Apapa Port Complex in Lagos.

The agency disclosed that the container had been under close surveillance for over four weeks after intelligence revealed its movement from Toronto, Canada, through Montreal by rail before transiting Morocco and eventually arriving in Nigeria.

According to the NDLEA, the container arrived at Tin Can Port on June 4, was discharged the following day and later transferred to Apapa Port, where it was finally intercepted on June 23.

In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives, working with their counterparts in Anambra State, uncovered a criminal syndicate that secretly plants illicit drugs inside the luggage of unsuspecting passengers travelling on commercial buses.

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The investigation began after operatives intercepted a Sienna bus travelling from Nnewi, Anambra State, to Abuja at Abaji in the FCT.

During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered a waybill package containing 467.7 grams of methamphetamine concealed inside a black nylon bag, which had been hidden in another sack of clothes bearing the receiver’s phone number.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, Gloria Peter, at Utako Motor Park in Abuja.

However, she denied ownership or knowledge of the illicit package, prompting investigators to arrest the bus loaders in Nnewi.

One of the loaders confessed that he had secretly inserted the drug package into the woman’s luggage on the instructions of the bus driver, identified as Abdurrazak Isah.

Further interrogation of the driver led to the arrest of Onyebuchi Victor Okoye, who was identified as the actual owner of the narcotics.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 57-year-old Ikechukwu Uwakwe at Iddo Motor Park in Lagos while attempting to transport 209.5 kilograms of Scottish Loud, another high-grade cannabis strain, to Enugu State.

The arrest followed credible intelligence received by the agency on Saturday, June 27.

The agency also apprehended two nationals of the Republic of Benin—Hossou Tito Julien, 30, and Mancellim Dossou, 19—alongside a Nigerian suspect, Jackson ThankGod, after intercepting their truck on the Mile 2 Bridge in Lagos.

The suspects were allegedly transporting illicit drugs from Togo through the Republic of Benin into Nigeria.

A detailed search of the truck uncovered 558,900 pills of Tramadol 250mg concealed inside a specially fabricated compartment built into the vehicle.

In another operation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, NDLEA officers arrested Lucky Abonga and Osas Azamobo while transporting 118 kilograms of skunk concealed among legitimate goods in a truck travelling from Ebute Ero, Lagos Island, to Onitsha, Anambra State.

The agency also raided a suspected drug distribution point at 15 Olumokun Street, Amukoko, Lagos, where two women—Helen Ese Idiji, 40, and Rashidat Sa’adullah, 53—were arrested with 28.8 kilograms of skunk.

Investigations revealed that Helen allegedly used Rashidat’s residence as a storage facility before distributing the illicit drugs to customers across Lagos.

Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA said it sustained its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, communities, workplaces and religious centres.

The awareness campaign reached institutions including Government Girls Science Secondary School in Damaturu, Yobe State; Adesalu Primary School, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos; Government Girls Secondary School, Badawa, Kano State; School of Science and Islamic Studies, Ankpa, Kogi State; and Community Secondary School, Ezimo, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Commending officers involved in the successful operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), praised personnel from the MMIA, Special Operations Units, Apapa, Federal Capital Territory, Anambra and Lagos Commands for their commitment to reducing the supply of illicit drugs while simultaneously promoting drug abuse prevention through public enlightenment.

He urged officers across the country to remain steadfast in the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse, stressing that the agency would continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and protecting Nigerian communities from the dangers of illicit drugs.