NDLEA Arrests Auto Parts Dealer for Smuggling Heroin and Loud in Lamps and Sofa Legs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Ejiofor Nnaemeka Chiwuzie, a Lagos-based automobile parts dealer, for attempting to export illegal drugs concealed in everyday household items. The agency intercepted a shipment of heroin and “loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) export shed in Ikeja, Lagos. Chiwuzie’s consignment, bound for Liberia, contained rechargeable lamps and sofa legs. Upon further inspection, NDLEA officials discovered 37 parcels of heroin weighing 1.10 kilograms and four blocks of loud weighing 1.20 kilograms hidden inside the items.

Following the discovery, a swift operation led to the arrest of two freight agents associated with the consignment. Chiwuzie was eventually apprehended at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, Lagos, where he operates an auto parts business. The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in NDLEA’s efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks exploiting trade routes and everyday goods to smuggle narcotics.

NDLEA Foils Multiple International Drug Smuggling Attempts

In a series of successful operations, NDLEA operatives disrupted several attempts to export illicit drug consignments through courier services to countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Thailand. One operation intercepted 2.3 kilograms of loud hidden in a carton en route to Thailand, while 749 grams of tramadol concealed in the soles of locally made shoes were destined for Oman. Additionally, 60 ampoules of pentazocine injection were seized in a consignment heading to the U.S., alongside 200 co-codamol pills bound for Australia.

Another significant seizure included 700 tablets of dihydrocodeine, promethazine, and tramadol, along with 20 ampoules of pentazocine injection, hidden in footwears and bound for the U.K. A consignment heading to Canada contained 58 ampoules of pentazocine injection concealed in female clothing. The NDLEA’s Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) carried out these interceptions between September 23 and 24, 2024, marking a string of successful drug busts in Lagos.

Arrests of Wanted Drug Kingpins and Ex-Convicts

NDLEA operatives also achieved a significant milestone with the arrest of two wanted drug kingpins, Ajiboye Damilare Samuel (alias Na God) and Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba. Ajiboye, who had evaded arrest for over a year, was apprehended in Ogun State after NDLEA officers traced and blocked 20 of his bank accounts. His warehouse in the Mushin area of Lagos had been raided in September 2023, leading to the recovery of 1,101 kilograms of “Ghana loud” cannabis.

Meanwhile, Talba, a community leader in Badagry, was arrested following the seizure of 226.2 kilograms of cannabis from his residence. His two wives and son were also detained during the operation. The arrests of these high-profile drug dealers signify NDLEA’s increasing efforts to capture major players in Nigeria’s narcotics trade.

Large Drug Seizures Across Nigeria

In addition to the Lagos operations, NDLEA officers conducted large-scale drug seizures in other states, further showcasing the agency’s nationwide efforts. In Kogi, three suspects were arrested with 2,062 kilograms of cannabis, while another suspect in Plateau State was caught with 12,000 tramadol pills. Similar operations in Oyo, Edo, and Cross River led to the recovery of significant quantities of cannabis and other narcotics.

One of the largest seizures took place in Lagos, where NDLEA’s Marine Command, with assistance from the Nigerian Customs Service, intercepted a boat carrying 71 bags of “Ghana loud” weighing nearly 3,000 kilograms. These operations highlight NDLEA’s ongoing campaign to combat drug trafficking, with special attention to high-risk areas across the country.

WADA Campaign and Nationwide Advocacy Efforts

Beyond arrests and drug seizures, the NDLEA continues to ramp up its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign. The agency’s officers have been conducting sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to schools, workplaces, and traditional rulers’ palaces to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse. Notable engagements include WADA lectures at the Government Girls Secondary School in Katsina and the Aree of Iree Town’s palace in Osun State.

Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the agency’s officers for their unrelenting efforts in arresting traffickers and promoting drug-free communities. Marwa also emphasized the importance of continuing the WADA advocacy campaign, which aims to reduce drug abuse and trafficking across Nigeria. These efforts underscore NDLEA’s holistic approach to eradicating the drug menace, combining enforcement with public education and awareness.