The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a series of major drug interceptions, uncovering illicit substances concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and clothing destined for the United States, United Kingdom, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The operations, which took place over the past week at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos and various courier companies, led to multiple arrests.
In one incident, a UK-based Public Health Assistant, 48-year-old Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot, was arrested at the Lagos airport on October 12th. NDLEA operatives discovered 2,300 pills of tramadol concealed within a shipment of frozen snails in her luggage as she attempted to board a flight to Manchester, UK.
Earlier, on October 7th, a cargo agent, Boladale Riliwan, was taken into custody after 15 parcels of cannabis (skunk) were found hidden inside 10 giant rechargeable electrical bulbs. The consignment was being prepared for airfreight to the DRC.
A third international smuggling attempt was foiled on October 16th, when officers at a Lagos courier company intercepted 810 pills of bromazepam, an opioid, hidden within female clothes destined for the United States.
Domational Crackdown and Major Seizures
The agency also reported significant successes within Nigeria. In Adamawa state, a suspect named Bello Buba was intercepted on October 12th with 38,270 pills of tramadol concealed in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of his car, which he had driven from Benin Republic.
In a major operation in Ekiti state, NDLEA operatives destroyed 53,250 kilograms of skunk on a 21.3-hectare cannabis farm and recovered an additional 1,140kg. This followed the destruction of 17,400kg of skunk on a plantation in Ondo state.
Further arrests and seizures were made across Oyo, Ogun, Imo, and Enugu states, involving large quantities of skunk and opioids like codeine syrup. In a significant port operation in Apapa, Lagos, 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in a container from India.
Ongoing Sensitization Efforts
Alongside these enforcement actions, the NDLEA confirmed that its commands nationwide continue to conduct War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization lectures in schools, worship centres, and communities.
Commending the officers involved, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged them to maintain the “ongoing balanced approach” in the agency’s drug control efforts.