NDLEA Arrests India-Bound Nursing Student Over Attempt to Ingest 76 Wraps of Cocaine

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted an attempt by 26-year-old Esther Onyinyechi Uzodinma, a 200-level nursing student at Noida International University, Uttar Pradesh, India, to smuggle cocaine to India through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano. The young woman was arrested on January 16, 2025, at the Royal Park Hotel in Sabon Gari, Kano, where she was waiting to ingest 76 wraps of cocaine before her scheduled flight.

Esther was booked on a Qatar Airways flight to Delhi, India, on January 17 but was apprehended before she could complete her illicit mission. Her arrest was triggered by the interception of 31-year-old Cosmas Okorie by NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State. Okorie was caught transporting 76 cocaine pellets, cleverly concealed inside an audio speaker, from Lagos to Kano. A swift follow-up operation led officers to Kano, where they apprehended Esther and disrupted the international drug trafficking plan.

Esther’s Confession and Drug Cartel Connection

During interrogation, Esther confessed that she was recruited by a drug cartel in India, which sponsored her trip to Nigeria under the guise of a holiday visit. To conceal her real movements, she avoided traveling to her home state, Imo, and instead stayed in a hotel in Enugu for two weeks. From there, she was flown to Abuja and later to Kano, where she was to swallow the cocaine pellets before boarding her flight. She revealed that she was promised a payment of over $5,000 upon successful delivery of the drugs to India.

The NDLEA’s operation highlights the growing involvement of Nigerian students in international drug trafficking, especially as couriers for cartels operating in Asia and Europe. The agency has reiterated its commitment to cracking down on such criminal networks and has warned against the lure of easy money, which often comes with severe legal consequences.

Major Drug Seizures on Highways and in Urban Centers

The NDLEA’s intensified operations also led to the interception of illicit consignments along major transport routes. Along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja highway, operatives arrested four suspects: Abdullahi Umar, Tijjani Samaila, Lucky Obotte, and Abubakar Haruna. The suspects were caught transporting over 38,000 pills of tramadol, concealed in audio speakers and clothing, en route to Borno, Kano, and Abuja.

In Lagos, NDLEA’s special operations unit raided the residence of 59-year-old Nwokedi Emeka Jonas in Ojodu-Berger, where they recovered 10 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 4.9kg. Investigations revealed that Jonas used custom-printed paper bags, labeled with street names and codes such as “Dead Man,” “Gelato Top Shelf Smoke,” and “Topshelf,” to distribute the psychoactive substance in retail quantities.

Expanded Raids Lead to More Arrests and Drug Seizures

Further crackdowns across the country led to multiple arrests and seizures. In Lagos’ Alimosho district, three suspects—Isaac Vincent (32), Ebube Ikechi (25), and Christopher Usifoh (43)—were apprehended at a house in Igando New Town. NDLEA recovered 1,610kg of skunk (a potent cannabis strain) and 6kg of tramadol pills. A delivery van and three other vehicles used for drug distribution were also confiscated.

In Lekki, Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested Olashile Okoya and Mohammed Ibrahim on January 18, recovering 28kg of Canadian Loud from their residence. Additionally, operatives raided the hideout of Saheed Sulaiman on Lagos Island on January 16, seizing 67kg of skunk. Another major raid in Lekki led to the arrest of Adamu Abdullahi and the recovery of various illicit substances, including codeine syrup, tramadol, rohypnol, cannabis, diazepam, Molly, Exol-5, methamphetamine, and a cash exhibit of ₦623,650.

These coordinated operations reflect the NDLEA’s relentless pursuit of drug traffickers and its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from the dangers of illicit substances. The agency has urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities as it continues its nationwide crackdown.

Major Drug Busts in Kano, Kwara, and Taraba States

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, making multiple arrests and seizing large quantities of illicit substances in various states across Nigeria. On Friday, January 17, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Usama Adamu, 25, and Isah Ibrahim, 29, at Dawanau in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State. The operation led to the recovery of 7.6kg of skunk, 78 tubes of rubber solution, and 356 bottles of “suck and die,” a newly identified psychoactive substance.

In another successful raid along Zaria Road, Kano, a suspect identified as Usman Isa, 29, was intercepted with 114 blocks of skunk weighing 49.8kg. Similarly, in Kwara State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects, Lawali Isiaka, Umoru Isiaka, and Mohammed Kabiru, on Wednesday, January 15, in Bode Saadu, Moro Local Government Area. They were found in possession of 390 tablets of Molly and 65.5kg of cannabis. In Taraba State, along the Wukari-Zaki Ibiam Road in Wukari LGA, Samuel Ogbu, 24, was caught transporting 25,000 pills of tramadol, further demonstrating the widespread nature of drug trafficking in the country.

NDLEA Raids in Abuja and Nationwide Sensitization Efforts

The NDLEA also carried out a series of raids in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), resulting in the arrest of Rufa’i Hashimu, 27, at Gwarimpa village, where 118 bottles of codeine-based syrup were seized. Additionally, 13 other suspects were arrested in various locations, including Area 1 IDP camp, Gishiri, Zuba, Dei-Dei, AYA, Lagos Street Garki, Karu, and Lugbe. The seizures included tramadal, diazepam, and methamphetamine, all classified as dangerous narcotics.

Beyond enforcement actions, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns across the country. Awareness programs were conducted in schools, religious centers, workplaces, and communities. Some notable institutions that benefited from these campaigns include NUD Basic Primary School in Orile-Igbon, Corpus Christi College in Ilawe Ekiti, Holy Family International Schools in Calabar, Kudam Islamic School in Osogbo, and the Business Apprenticeship Training Centre in Katsina. In addition, the NDLEA’s Abia State Command paid an advocacy visit to Governor Alex Otti, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to reducing drug abuse at all levels.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Kwara, FCT, and Taraba commands for their successful operations. He urged them to remain steadfast in their efforts to curb drug supply and demand across the nation, emphasizing the importance of a balanced approach to drug control and rehabilitation.