Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted significant consignments of drugs concealed in unusual ways.
According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, “loud” cannabis hidden inside microwaves imported from Thailand and cocaine embedded in ladies’ lipsticks destined for Guinea were seized.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, NDLEA officers recovered 23 parcels of “loud” cannabis weighing 11.3kg concealed within new microwaves on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok via Addis Ababa.
Ezenwegbu Chike, a suspect, was arrested in connection with the seizure on July 7.
This follows a recent seizure of 420 grams of cocaine hidden in 84 female lipsticks bound for the UK.
On July 11, NDLEA operatives intercepted another shipment of cocaine concealed in lipsticks among cargo containing hair attachments and cosmetics heading to Malabo, Equitorial Guinea.
About 400 grams of cocaine mixed with phenacetin, a cutting agent, were recovered.
One Ezeikwelume Prince Afam, a businessman, was arrested in Lagos in connection with the case.
In another major breakthrough, NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit arrested Okechukwu Izugha, a notorious drug kingpin, aka Okey Omeogo, in Lagos on July 9 after 12 months in hiding.
Izugha was linked to a 9 kg cocaine seizure in August 2024 and his wife was previously convicted for drug trafficking.
In Edo, NDLEA destroyed over 28 tonnes of skunk cannabis on three farms covering 11 hectares in Ewere Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA, on July 8.
The operation was met with armed resistance from cartel members, but officers repelled the attack unharmed despite one vehicle being riddled with bullets.
Additionally, 82 kg of processed cannabis was seized at the site.
In Lagos, 700 kg of compressed Ghana loud cannabis and a delivery truck were seized at Okun-Ajah Beach.
Two suspects, Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul, were arrested along Ajah-Epe expressway with 26 kg of loud, 123 grams of methamphetamine, 45 grams of Molly, and a delivery van.
NDLEA operatives in Borno arrested Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine and pills of tramadol and rohypnol on July 12.
Earlier, 10,000 tramadol pills were seized from Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu on July 9.
In Gombe, five suspects were arrested with 116,226 pills of tramadol and D-5 during raids on July 8 and 12.
Other arrests include Sabiu Bala in Kogi with 316.6kg of skunk on July 10, and Haladu Suleiman in Kaduna with 58.8kg of the same substance.
In Taraba, three suspects were caught with 577,890 opioid pills and 1.16kg of skunk concealed in a petrol tanker on July 12.
NDLEA also apprehended three suspects with 48.1kg of skunk in Kano state on July 9.
