Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted 12 large parcels of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of food flasks heading to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The cocaine consignment with a gross weight of 2.80 kilograms was intercepted on Thursday, April 9, 2026, by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport. Two cargo agents involved in the export bid, Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39, were arrested. Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent, Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, as the sender of the consignment. He was arrested in a follow-up operation.
In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday, April 8, intercepted a consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms. It was concealed in snack food packs and arrived from the United States of America aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
Two cargo clearing agents, Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure. The consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3 Oba Ogunji road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday, April 13.
In Kaduna, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway by Gwargwaje Zaria on Monday, April 13, intercepted a trailer conveying cement heading to Hadeja in Jigawa State. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver, Umar Garba Haruna, 33, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested on Thursday, April 16, when NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State. They destroyed 15,000 kilograms of skunk on six hectares of farmland and recovered 119kg of the same substance.
Another cannabis farm was raided on Tuesday, April 14, at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo State, where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of the psychoactive substance. Three suspects, Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45, were arrested. Christopher and Monday were caught with 38.5kg of cannabis and its seeds.
Two suspects, Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39, were nabbed with 87.838kg of skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta State, on Friday, April 17.
In Lagos, two suspects, Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu, were arrested on Wednesday, April 15, at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry expressway while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana. The same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where 95.8kg of skunk was recovered.
Commands and formations of the Agency across the country also continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places, and communities. These included WADA enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Alfurgan Islamic School, Paiko, Niger State; Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Heritage Model School, Ankpa, Kogi; Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina; Government Senior Secondary School, Rano, Kano; and De Ambassador Secondary School, Epe, Lagos State, among others.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos Commands for the arrests and seizures. He noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities and charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.
