The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its anti-narcotics campaign in Lagos, intercepting multiple illicit drug shipments and dismantling high-profile drug syndicates operating within the state.
In a major operation on Thursday, July 3, NDLEA operatives attached to the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) uncovered cocaine consignments at a courier firm in Lagos concealed in unusual items. A total of 420 grams of cocaine were found factory-fitted inside 84 pieces of female lipsticks headed to the United Kingdom, while another 280 grams of cocaine were hidden in a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) bound for Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, a notorious drug kingpin, Ajetsibo Emami, also known as ‘Warri Kinsman’, was arrested in Ikeja on Saturday, June 28, after a three-day operation that led to the dismantling of his drug network. The raid resulted in the recovery of 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, a high-grade strain of cannabis weighing 414.2kg, which he planned to distribute from Lekki to other parts of Lagos and beyond.
In another shocking bust, a family-run drug syndicate operating from Ojo was uncovered. Businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife, Rosemary, were first arrested on June 13 with 277.5kg of skunk. While still in NDLEA custody, follow-up intelligence led to further raids on July 1 at their residence and storage facility where an additional 231kg of skunk was recovered. Their daughters, Stella, Ngozi, and a family friend, Okoro Elijah, were caught running the operation in their absence.
Lagos airport also witnessed significant seizures. On July 2, NDLEA officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport arrested Aburemi Hysent, a regular traveller to Italy, with 7,660 pills of Tramadol concealed in food items. He confessed he was promised €800 for smuggling the drugs.
In another airport operation on July 4, operatives intercepted 52 pieces of suspected counterfeit travellers’ cheques valued at AUD 17.7 million, hidden inside children’s books en route to Malaysia via Istanbul. A freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed, was arrested and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the Lagos Command and other units nationwide for the strategic balance in reducing both drug supply and demand. He hailed the Lagos teams in particular for their relentless efforts in curbing drug trafficking through commercial, residential, and transit channels.
Lagos remains a key battleground in the national war against drug trafficking, and the NDLEA’s latest operations signal renewed momentum in cracking down on the networks exploiting the state’s logistics and population density to fuel the illicit trade.