NDLEA busts major drug, explosives rings, seizes over 30kg heroin at Abuja Airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against drug trafficking and related crimes, with a series of coordinated operations across Nigeria leading to multiple arrests and the seizure of large quantities of illicit substances and explosives.

In one of the most significant interceptions, a 30-year-old Brazilian woman, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 30.09 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria.

The narcotics, valued at over N3 billion, were concealed inside factory-sealed coffee packs.

The suspect, who works as a private security officer in Brazil, arrived on a Qatar Airways flight (QR1431) on Friday, January 23, 2026. Acting on intelligence, NDLEA operatives conducted a search of her luggage and discovered 21 sealed packets of Brazilian coffee.

Upon opening the packages, officers found the coffee bags were filled with white substances that later tested positive for heroin.

The agency described the seizure as the largest heroin interception at Abuja airport to date. During interrogation, the suspect claimed she was in Nigeria for holidays.

The NDLEA also disclosed multiple operations in different states, leading to the arrest of suspected traffickers and the recovery of substantial quantities of drugs:

Lagos (MMIA): Two passengers, Adediran Adedoyin and Afatakpa Ochuko, were intercepted on January 20 while attempting to fly to Istanbul with 3,990 pills of tapentadol and tramaking concealed in food items.

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Lagos (Lekki): The Marine Command seized 44 jumbo bags of Ghana Loud cannabis, weighing 1,848 kg, from a wooden boat intercepted at Jakande Beach on January 22. Two suspects were arrested.

Kaduna–Zaria Highway: Two men, Aminu Ali Baba and Abdulrasheed Abubakar, were arrested after 140 packets of explosives were found in bags heading to Kano and Kaduna.

Borno State: NDLEA operatives intercepted 179,590 pills of tramadol and diazepam concealed in sacks of charcoal and animal feed in Maiduguri. The owner, Rabiu Imam, was arrested.

Kwara State: A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Mrs. Eze Cynthia Chioma, linked to the seizure of 78,500 tramadol pills.

Ekiti State: 72-year-old Afolalu Joseph and Abu Bunmi (alias Go Slow) were arrested with 62 kg of skunk.

Edo State: Chief James Abamu, a village head, and Aboy Egah Abamu were arrested after soldiers recovered 681 kg of skunk and 181 kg of cannabis seeds.

Delta State: 30,003 pills of tramadol, molly, and other opioids seized from Chinyecherem Cyprian Ugwu, along with 20 litres of codeine syrup.

Ondo State: 1,500 kg of skunk recovered from Kayode Obameye, aged 57.

The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across schools, religious centres, and communities in multiple states including Taraba, Osun, Imo, Benue, and Katsina.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain professionalism in both drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.