The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully apprehended two notorious drug kingpins attempting to smuggle heroin into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, and the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Rivers State. The arrests, which took place on February 1 and 2, 2025, highlight the agency’s intensified crackdown on illicit drug trafficking in the country.
One of the suspects, 30-year-old Onyekwonike Elochuckwu Sylvanus, also known by his Sierra Leonean alias Kargbo Mohamed Foday, was intercepted at the Port Harcourt airport while traveling on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha via Abuja. A body scan confirmed he had ingested drugs, leading to an excretion observation process in which he expelled 62 wraps of heroin weighing 1.348 kilograms. Investigations revealed that Sylvanus, who holds dual passports, has been involved in cross-border drug trafficking between Thailand, Pakistan, Iran, and West Africa since 2017, following the collapse of his clothing and shoe business.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives at MMIA Lagos arrested James Herbert Chinoso, 48, upon his arrival from Madagascar via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A body scan exposed his attempt to smuggle 63 wraps of heroin, totaling 909 grams, concealed within his digestive system. Chinoso admitted that financial difficulties, stemming from the collapse of his phone accessories business in Liberia, drove him into drug trafficking.
Illicit Drug Shipments Intercepted at Courier Firms and Highways
In a separate series of operations, NDLEA operatives foiled multiple attempts to smuggle illegal drugs through courier services and interstate highways. On February 6, officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) in Lagos intercepted two parcels of 2.82 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis imported from the United States. The consignment, destined for Lagos, was found concealed within a courier firm’s package.
Another interception in a different Lagos-based logistics company led to the discovery of 80 ampoules of pentazocine injection, a powerful opioid painkiller. The consignment, weighing 225 grams, was en route to Canada before it was seized by anti-narcotics officers.
Meanwhile, along the Kabba-Obajana highway in Kogi State, NDLEA operatives confiscated a consignment of 12,800 pills of tramadol (250mg) intended for delivery to Shuwarin, Jigawa State. A suspect, 33-year-old Salisu Basiru, was arrested in connection with the illegal shipment. On the same day, officers seized 65 parcels of Colorado, another potent synthetic cannabis strain, weighing 1.6 kilograms, from a suspect identified as Rufai Hassan, 32.
Drug Concealment Tactics Exposed in Kano and Kogi Operations
In an ongoing effort to curb drug distribution networks across Nigeria, NDLEA officers in Kano made significant arrests involving sophisticated concealment techniques. On February 3, operatives apprehended Usaini Salisu and Yahaya Mu’azu, both 23 years old, at Gadar Tamburawa along Zaria Road. The duo was found in possession of 15,396 tramadol pills hidden inside a gas cylinder, a method increasingly used by traffickers to evade detection.
Another bust in Kano resulted in the arrest of Chioma Okeke, 35, who was found with 27 blocks of skunk (a potent strain of cannabis) weighing 15 kilograms at Sabon Gari. The drug seizure further exposes the persistent efforts of traffickers to flood Nigerian communities with illicit substances.
The success of these operations underlines the NDLEA’s ability to track and intercept concealed drug consignments, preventing their distribution across state lines and international borders.
NDLEA Expands War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) Sensitization Efforts
Beyond enforcement actions, NDLEA has intensified its drug demand reduction strategies through the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign. The initiative aims to educate students, religious groups, and professionals about the dangers of substance abuse and the consequences of drug trafficking.
In the past week, WADA enlightenment programs were conducted at several institutions, including Saint Secondary School in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State; Taangayar Malam Abubakar Bichi, an Almajiri school in Kano; Federal Government Girls College in Calabar, Cross River State; College of Nursing and Science in Birnin Kebbi; and Meiran Community Junior Secondary School in Abule Egba, Lagos State. The campaign continues to reach thousands of young Nigerians, reinforcing the importance of a drug-free society.
NDLEA Chairman Commends Officers, Reaffirms Commitment to Drug-Free Nigeria
Following the series of high-profile arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), commended the agency’s operatives for their dedication and efficiency. He highlighted the importance of both drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts, emphasizing that the fight against narcotics requires a balanced approach.
“These arrests and seizures demonstrate our unwavering commitment to eradicating drug trafficking networks in Nigeria. The NDLEA will continue to deploy intelligence-driven operations, cutting off supply channels while educating the public on the dangers of substance abuse,” Marwa stated.
The agency remains committed to dismantling drug syndicates, intercepting illicit shipments, and prosecuting traffickers to protect the country from the devastating effects of drug abuse. With increased vigilance and community engagement, NDLEA aims to sustain its momentum in making Nigeria a drug-free nation.
The recent arrests and drug seizures reinforce the NDLEA’s relentless pursuit of drug traffickers operating within Nigeria and across international borders. As traffickers devise more sophisticated concealment methods, the agency continues to stay ahead with intelligence-led operations and rigorous enforcement measures. With the unwavering commitment of its officers and continued public awareness campaigns, the NDLEA remains Nigeria’s foremost defense to against the scourge of illicit drugs.
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