NDLEA Intensifies War on Drug Trafficking: Iran-Bound Businessman Nabbed for Ingesting 53 Wraps of Cocaine

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made another major breakthrough in its war against illicit drug trafficking with the arrest of a 44-year-old businessman, Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka Christian, at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA). Ezemokwe, who was Iran-bound, was found to have ingested 53 wraps of cocaine, weighing a total of 1.172kg, in a desperate bid to smuggle the narcotics to Tehran.

According to NDLEA officials, Ezemokwe was intercepted on Saturday, June 7, while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight QR1434 to Tehran via Doha. A body scan revealed the presence of illicit substances in his system, prompting officials to place him under observation. Over the course of six excretions, he expelled all 53 wraps of the class A drug. The suspect later confessed that he had been involved in the narcotics trade for the past two years, moving drugs between West Africa and Iran.

This latest arrest comes just two weeks after the interception of another Iran-bound cocaine trafficker, Chinedu Leonard Okigbo, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. These incidents have heightened concerns about Nigeria’s growing role as a trafficking hub in the global narcotics network.

Lagos Airport Seizure: Tramadol Found in Winter Jackets

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, NDLEA operatives thwarted a smuggling attempt involving large quantities of tramadol disguised in winter wear. In the early hours of Saturday, June 14, officials intercepted Edobor Ambrose Ali, who was on his way to Milan, Italy, aboard an Air France flight.

Security agents working in conjunction with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) flagged Ali’s luggage during a routine tarmac scan. Upon a detailed search, officers uncovered 14,410 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg hidden in winter jackets—an unusual and sophisticated concealment method. Ali confessed that he resides in Italy and had been recruited and funded for the operation by a trafficking syndicate for a fee of €2,000.

The incident highlights the increasing ingenuity of drug traffickers and the need for constant vigilance at Nigeria’s international gateways. NDLEA has reiterated its commitment to tightening airport surveillance and intensifying collaboration with international drug enforcement agencies.

Massive Codeine Shipment Intercepted in Rivers

In a coordinated operation at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA officers intercepted a massive consignment of codeine-based syrup valued at over ₦1.1 billion. The seizure occurred on Friday, June 13, during a joint container inspection with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

The container, which had been placed on a watch list, was found to contain 157,800 bottles of the highly addictive opioid syrup. To avoid detection, traffickers had cleverly concealed the bottles behind 257 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares. Investigations are ongoing to trace the origin and intended recipients of the contraband.

This seizure marks a significant disruption to the supply chain of codeine-based substances, which continue to contribute to Nigeria’s drug abuse crisis, particularly among youths. The NDLEA stressed that it would continue to monitor cargo movements closely at the nation’s seaports.

2.6 Tonnes of Skunk Recovered in Cross River, Bauchi, and Lagos

The agency’s offensive also extended to Cross River and Bauchi states, where officers recovered nearly 3,000kg of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. In Cross River, a warehouse in Obereakai, Odukpani Local Government Area, was raided on Thursday, June 12. The operation led to the arrest of three suspects—Friday Achibong Joseph (47), Abraham Anthony Willy (21), and Utibe David Okon (24)—and the seizure of 2,687kg of the substance.

In Bauchi, two suspects—Iriemi Imonikhe (49) and Sa’idu Ladan (30)—were caught along the Bauchi-Jos Road transporting 287kg of skunk in a Toyota Camry. The operation was based on actionable intelligence provided to the NDLEA by local informants.

Further demonstrating the agency’s expansive reach, 14 jumbo sacks of skunk weighing 560kg were seized from a wooden boat at Oniru Beach in Lagos by the NDLEA Marine Command on the same day. These seizures reinforce the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on cannabis cultivation, distribution, and trafficking in Nigeria.

National Sensitization and Commendations from NDLEA Chairman

While enforcement remains a key pillar of the NDLEA’s strategy, the agency continues to bolster drug demand reduction through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy. In the past week, WADA sensitization lectures were delivered at educational institutions including Command Secondary School in Enugu, Divine Gift International School in Ebonyi, Baptist Primary School in Oyo, and St. Vincent Secondary School in Akwa Ibom.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the efforts of the officers involved in these high-impact operations. He praised operatives across MMIA, PHIA, MBIAM, Marine, Cross River, and Bauchi commands for their dedication in striking a balance between drug supply and demand reduction.

Marwa reiterated the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug cartels, prosecute traffickers, and rehabilitate addicts. “The momentum must not slow down,” he said. “The safety and sanity of our communities depend on our sustained efforts to rid our country of the scourge of illicit drugs.”