NDLEA arrests 63-year-old Chinese woman with 31kg synthetic cannabis (Video)

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 63-year-old Chinese national, Ting Hung Kiong, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 31 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The suspect, who reportedly naturalised in Malaysia, was arrested on Sunday, May 17, 2026, upon arrival in Nigeria from Thailand via Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight. NDLEA operatives attached to the Terminal 2 Arrival Hall of the airport intercepted her after she was identified as a person of interest during routine surveillance.

According to the agency, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect travelled from Malaysia to Thailand before proceeding to Nigeria, with a stopover in the United Arab Emirates. She was found in possession of two large travel boxes containing the illicit substance.

The 63-year-old, who claimed to work as a caregiver in Malaysia, told investigators that her daughter sponsored her trip. She further disclosed that she spent two weeks in Thailand, where she was allegedly handed the drug consignment at the airport with instructions to deliver it in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA also announced the interception of another major drug shipment at the Lagos airport import shed.

The consignment, which arrived from India via an Emirates Cargo flight, contained 29 cartons of Tapentadol 250mg tablets, totaling 1,825,710 pills, with an estimated street value of ₦2.19 billion. The shipment was handed over to the agency by the Nigeria Customs Service after sustained surveillance.

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In a separate operation at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, operatives arrested Onyeka Valentine Emeka during inward passenger screening on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Sierra Leone via Addis Ababa. The suspect was later placed under observation and excreted 185.36 grams of cocaine.

At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, NDLEA operatives arrested a 29-year-old engineer, Babatunde Prosper Afekhide, while he attempted to board a flight to Milan, Italy, via Addis Ababa. A search of his luggage revealed 10,280 tablets of opioids, including Tramaking 225mg, Tramadol 200mg, and Tapentadol 250mg, concealed in foil and hidden inside a suitcase.

Similarly, in Lagos, operatives intercepted multiple illicit drug consignments at a courier company, including 1,174 MDMA (Ecstasy) pills concealed in bicycle luggage destined for the Netherlands, 66 Tramadol pills hidden in a soap container bound for the United States, and 18 Tramadol tablets concealed in body cream destined for the United Kingdom.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, raided Igwe community in Owan East Local Government Area, recovering 59 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 489kg alongside 9kg of cannabis seeds.

In Kano State, a suspect, Isah Sani, 30, was arrested along the Zaria–Kano road with 196,000 pills of Exol-5. In Lagos’ Badagry axis, operatives recovered 59kg of skunk from a warehouse in Mowo during a targeted operation.

Another major breakthrough was recorded in Ekiti State, where NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse at Ikole-Ekiti and seized 1,116 kilograms of skunk. A 54-year-old suspect, Ogundana Adebayo Julius, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

The agency also reported continued nationwide sensitisation under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, with enlightenment programmes held in schools, worship centres, and communities across Oyo, Anambra, Katsina, Lagos, Enugu, Ekiti, and Kano states.

While commending officers across various commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their operational successes and urged sustained efforts in both drug supply reduction and public awareness campaigns.

The statement was issued by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.