In a major drug bust, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended a 43-year-old female make-up artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. The suspect, who claimed she was traveling to India for fibroid surgery, had 2.20 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the walls of her luggage.
Adekoya was arrested on June 16, 2025, following credible intelligence that prompted authorities to monitor her actions closely. She had just checked in her luggage for a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha when she was detained. Upon inspection, NDLEA officials discovered two large parcels of cocaine concealed within her suitcase.
In her statement, Adekoya revealed that she was motivated by financial gain and was working under the direction of a drug kingpin, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, who is currently at large. Adekanbi allegedly funded her trip and operates a hotel in Ogun State.
The NDLEA’s recent operations revealed a broader issue of drug trafficking, with multiple interdictions reported across Nigeria. On June 19, officers intercepted a shipment containing 1.3 kilograms of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, destined for Bahrain, while another shipment bore 850 grams of cocaine concealed in cloth hangers en route to Australia.
Further operations in Bauchi state led to the arrest of Ibrahim Galadima and Ibrahim Muhammed, who were apprehended with over one million pills of various opioids. Additional seizures included substantial amounts of cannabis and methamphetamine across multiple states, highlighting a concerted effort by the NDLEA to combat drug abuse and trafficking.
The agency has also undertaken educational initiatives as part of its “War Against Drug Abuse” (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitization lectures in schools and engaging with community leaders.
Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of operatives from various commands for their diligence in combating drug trafficking and supporting drug prevention efforts nationwide.