NDLEA Seizes Cannabis Concealed in Microwaves, Lipsticks in Nationwide Anti-Drug Raids
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, making multiple arrests and recovering substantial quantities of narcotics across several states, including Lagos, Edo, Gombe, and Kaduna.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, operatives arrested one Ezenwegbu Chike after intercepting 23 parcels of Loud cannabis, weighing 11.3kg, concealed inside newly imported microwaves from Thailand. The illicit cargo, arriving via Ethiopian Airlines from Bangkok through Addis Ababa, was seized on Monday, July 7, following actionable intelligence.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport’s export shed also uncovered 400 grams of cocaine and phenacetine hidden inside ladies’ lipsticks bound for Malabo, Guinea, as part of a consignment that included hair attachments and cosmetics. The suspect, Ezeikwelume Prince Afam, a businessman at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, was arrested on Friday, July 11.
Meanwhile, after months on the run, NDLEA tracked and arrested notorious drug kingpin Okechukwu Izugha on Wednesday, July 9, at his wife’s shop in Ijesha Market, Lagos. He had been linked to a 9kg cocaine bust in August 2024. His wife, Maureen Izugha, was previously convicted in January 2025 for possession of 500 grams of cocaine.
In Edo State, NDLEA destroyed over 28,000kg of cannabis discovered on three farms spanning 11 hectares in Ewere Uzebba forest, Owan West LGA. Officers were ambushed by armed cartel members on exit but repelled the attack without casualties. One operational vehicle was damaged by gunfire.
In another Lagos raid, operatives intercepted 1,400 blocks of Ghana Loud cannabis, weighing 700kg, at Okun-Ajah Beach. A Ford truck was seized and two suspects, Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul, were arrested. Additional seizures in the state included 26kg of cannabis, 123g of methamphetamine, and 45g of molly, along with another delivery van.
In Borno State, operatives arrested Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi, 42, on July 12, with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine and assorted pills of tramadol and rohypnol at Njimtilo, Maiduguri. Just days earlier, on July 9, 10,000 tramadol pills were recovered from Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu, 34.
Similarly, in Gombe State, the agency seized 116,226 pills of tramadol and D-5 from five suspects: Hafiz Bello (22), Isah Suleman (48), Kabiru Muhammed (30), Abdullahi Adamu (30), and Abel Murna (25) during coordinated raids on July 8 and July 12.
In Kogi State, Sabiu Bala was arrested along the Okene-Lokoja Expressway with 316.6kg of skunk, while in Kaduna, Haladu Suleiman, 38, was nabbed with 58.8kg of the same substance in Gubuchi, Ikara LGA.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed all seizures and arrests, stating that the operations are part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and protect public health.
