NDLEA Arrests Businessmen and Nurse for Drug Trafficking at Lagos Airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended two Nigerian businessmen, Ihejirika Okechukwu Emmanuel and Iwuagwu Ikedi Victory, along with Canada-based nurse, Usman Grace Khadijat Olami, for drug trafficking at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. The arrests, which took place in early October 2024, highlight a continued crackdown on illicit drug activities within Nigeria.

Ihejirika, a 51-year-old fish importer who frequently travels to Thailand, was arrested on October 15, 2024, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Thailand. During a body scan, NDLEA officials discovered that he had ingested five large egg-sized pellets of cocaine weighing 400 grams. Meanwhile, 26-year-old businessman Iwuagwu Ikedi Victory, arriving from Brazil on October 17, was found with a single pellet of cocaine weighing 22 grams after excreting 29 pellets in Addis Ababa. Both men confessed to drug trafficking, with Victory revealing he was paid N2.5 million for his role.

Canada-Based Nurse Arrested for Trafficking Synthetic Cannabis

In another major drug bust, Canada-based nurse Usman Grace Khadijat Olami was arrested on October 4, 2024, at the Lagos airport. NDLEA officers discovered 70 parcels of a synthetic cannabis strain known as “Loud” in her luggage, weighing 35.70kg. The nurse, who had arrived on an Air France flight from Toronto, Canada, via Paris, claimed the illicit cargo was brought to Nigeria at the request of her boyfriend.

“Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, is highly sought after in Nigeria and has become a growing concern for law enforcement agencies due to its strong psychoactive effects. Olami’s arrest underscores the increasing use of air travel by drug traffickers attempting to smuggle synthetic drugs into the country. The nurse’s case is part of a broader investigation into international drug syndicates.

NDLEA Seizes Over N7 Billion Worth of Opioids at Nigerian Seaports

While National Drug Law Enforcement Agency continues its successful drug interdiction operations at airports, the agency has also made significant seizures at Nigerian seaports. On October 15, 2024, NDLEA agents intercepted 162,351 bottles of codeine-based syrup from two containers during a joint operation with the Nigerian Customs Service at Apapa seaport in Lagos. Simultaneously, at the Port Harcourt Port Complex (PHPC) in Onne, Rivers State, over N7 billion worth of opioids, including 7.2 million pills of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, were seized from containers originating from India.

The containers also yielded 780 cartons of chlorphenamine containing over 15 million pills of the opioid. These seizures highlight the immense scale of drug trafficking operations targeting Nigeria’s maritime routes. With a combined street value of N7,095,457,000, the NDLEA’s efforts have significantly disrupted the flow of opioids into the country.

NDLEA’s Continued Fight Against Drug Abuse Across Nigeria

In addition to high-profile arrests and seizures, NDLEA has continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which includes public sensitization efforts across Nigeria. In Bauchi State, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency operatives arrested Sunday Jonathan Ogenyi with 76,600 pills of tramadol concealed in a vehicle, while in Ondo State, three suspects were nabbed for possession of 672kg of cannabis sativa. Similarly, raids in Edo State led to the destruction of over 10,000kg of cannabis.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has extended its WADA campaign to schools, communities, and worship centers, delivering drug awareness lectures in institutions such as Ansarudeen Senior High School in Oyo State and Government Secondary School in Kano. These outreach efforts are designed to curb drug demand and reduce the overall abuse of substances across the nation, contributing to the agency’s balanced approach to combating drug-related issues.