Abuja | Sunday, July 6, 2025
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered multiple drug trafficking schemes, including cocaine concealed in lipsticks and property documents, and arrested several individuals linked to domestic and international drug syndicates.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), stationed at a courier company, intercepted two separate cocaine consignments on Thursday, July 3. One contained 420 grams of cocaine ingeniously packed in 84 pieces of female lipstick bound for the United Kingdom, while another 280 grams were hidden in a property title document (Certificate of Occupancy) destined for Saudi Arabia.
In a major crackdown on a notorious cartel, NDLEA arrested Ajetsibo Emami, also known as ‘Warri Kinsman’, in Ikeja on June 28, following a three-day sting operation. The bust led to the recovery of 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud (a potent cannabis strain), weighing 414.2kg. Emami was reportedly planning to distribute the consignment across Lagos and beyond.
In another operation, a family-led drug syndicate was dismantled. Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary, and their daughters were apprehended for running an illicit drug network from their home in Ojo, Lagos. First arrested on June 13 with 277.5kg of skunk, further intelligence led to a raid on July 1, where another 231kg was recovered. Their daughters, Ngozi and Blessing Uchenna, along with family friend Okoro Elijah, were arrested while continuing the illegal business.
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA officials intercepted Aburemi Hysent, a frequent flyer attempting to smuggle 7,660 tramadol pills hidden in food items en route to Italy. Hysent claimed he was to receive €800 for successful delivery.
In a separate airport operation on July 4, officers seized 52 counterfeit travelers’ cheques worth AUD 17.7 million, hidden in children’s books on a Turkish Airlines flight to Malaysia via Istanbul. Freight agent Bolarinwa Saheed was arrested and transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
Meanwhile, at Seme border in Badagry, NDLEA recovered 718 large balls of skunk (359kg) from a storage facility in Baba-Pupa. On the Okene-Lokoja highway, officers seized 10,000 tramadol pills and 1.05kg of Colorado (synthetic cannabis), leading to the arrest of Chinedu Odo, Samuel Ogbonna, and Kingsley Ugaji during follow-up operations at Jabi Park, Abuja.
In Osun State, operatives arrested Agunbiade Folusho (40) and Suleiman Dasola (28) with over 13,900 pills and ampoules of opioids. Another suspect, Adebayo Adewale (50), was caught with 48,205 pills at a patent medicine shop in Ile-Ife. A raid on a vulcanizer’s workshop in Osogbo led to the arrest of Wasiu Ajadi, Babatunde Jamiu Ojo, and Yusuf Sarafadeen, with pentazocine injections, tramadol pills, and codeine syrup.
A large-scale raid in the Ikaka-Oke Ila forest, Osun State, uncovered a 9.67-hectare cannabis farm, yielding 24,175kg of skunk. Seven suspects were arrested, including Bunmi Adedapo (41) and Adebisi Sodiq (26).
Other key seizures and arrests included:
- 167kg of skunk in Gamboru-Ngala, Borno.
- 452kg of skunk on the Zaria-Kano road; suspects: Nasuru Saleh and Mustapha Muhammad.
- 11,000 tramadol pills on Abuja-Kaduna expressway from Sule Ibrahim Sadiq (30).
- 4,800 tramadol pills seized in Sokoto; suspect: Joseph Onungene (62).
- In Kebbi, 312kg of skunk and 10,000 diazepam tablets were recovered from a base in Bakin Kasuwa Yauri.
- In Taraba, Chigbo Okolo (52) and Ishaku Musa (28) were arrested with 49,930 tramadol capsules.
- In Edo, wanted suspect Alaba Monday (49) was caught on his cannabis farm with 115kg processed skunk; three other suspects were arrested on another 2-hectare farm.
- In Cross River, Mike Abeng (78) was nabbed with 14.49kg of skunk and tramadol in Ofudua, Obubra LGA. Others arrested in the area include Oyom Akam, Sylvester Odem, and Moses Ayo.
The NDLEA also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy campaign, delivering anti-drug lectures in schools and communities across Enugu, Lagos, Katsina, and Borno States.
Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers across various state commands for their efforts in drug supply and demand reduction. He also praised the coordination between security agencies in these operations.
“Our officers have again demonstrated resolve and efficiency in dismantling networks, intercepting illicit substances, and ensuring communities are safer,” Marwa said.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Sunday, July 6, 2025
