NDLEA intercepts cocaine in food flasks, cannabis in cement trailer

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recorded a series of major breakthroughs across the country, intercepting cocaine destined for the United Kingdom, cannabis concealed in commercial goods, and dismantling large-scale drug cultivation sites in multiple states.

Cocaine Concealed in Food Flasks Bound for UK Intercepted in Lagos Airport

In a major operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted 12 parcels of cocaine cleverly hidden in false compartments of food flasks destined for the United Kingdom aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight.

The seizure, made on Thursday, April 9, 2026, weighed 2.80 kilograms in total. Two cargo agents linked to the attempted export, Ama Obinna Ufeim (33) and Ogabi Monday Akorede (39), were arrested at the export shed during the operation.

A follow-up investigation led to the arrest of a 52-year-old freight forwarder, Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, identified as the alleged sender of the illicit consignment.

In a separate operation at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday, April 8, NDLEA operatives intercepted 2.90 kilograms of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in snack food packages arriving from the United States via Delta Airlines.

Two cargo clearing agents, Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure. The investigation later led to the arrest of the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke (29), a fashion designer, who was picked up on Monday, April 13, at his residence on Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba, Lagos.

On Monday, April 13, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kaduna–Zaria highway intercepted a trailer loaded with cement heading towards Hadeja, Jigawa State.

A search of the vehicle revealed 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk cannabis, weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver, Umar Garba Haruna (33), was arrested in connection with the haul.

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In Cross River State, NDLEA operatives, with military support, raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa LGA, on Thursday, April 16. During the operation, 15,000 kilograms of skunk cultivated on six hectares were destroyed, while 119 kilograms were recovered. A 53-year-old suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested.

Similarly, in Edo State on Tuesday, April 14, a large cannabis plantation at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, was dismantled, with 2,281.43 kilograms destroyed. Three suspects—Nweke Smart (27), Christopher Egbe (62), and Monday Ayan (45)—were arrested, with additional seizures of 38.5kg of cannabis and seeds.

In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested Sunday Odili (49) and Ijenebe Joshua (39) on Friday, April 17, in the Powerline area of Okwo with 87.838 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds.

In Lagos, two suspects, Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu, were arrested on Wednesday, April 15, at Mile 2 along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway while transporting 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injections concealed in a truck bound for Ghana.

On the same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, recovering 95.8 kilograms of skunk cannabis.

Beyond enforcement operations, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, and communities.

Outreach programmes were held at institutions including Alfurgan Islamic School (Niger State), Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School (Cross River), Heritage Model School (Kogi), Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School (Katsina), Government Senior Secondary School (Kano), and De Ambassador Secondary School (Lagos), among others.

Commending the operatives involved in the nationwide operations, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the coordinated efforts of MMIA, Lagos, Edo, Delta, Cross River, and Kaduna Commands.

He urged officers to sustain the momentum in both drug supply reduction operations and public sensitisation campaigns, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to intensifying the fight against drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria.