The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted cocaine consignments ingeniously concealed in lipsticks and property title documents destined for the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, in a major breakthrough at a Lagos courier company. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) discovered 420 grams of cocaine factory-fitted inside 84 pieces of female lipsticks bound for the UK, and another 280 grams hidden within a property title document (Certificate of Occupancy) heading to Saudi Arabia.
The seizures were part of NDLEA’s intensified operations to clamp down on sophisticated smuggling methods employed by drug traffickers using courier and logistics channels. The successful interception has once again spotlighted the lengths criminal networks are willing to go to move narcotics across borders, despite tight international security protocols.
Kingpins, Family Syndicates, and Street-Level Networks Dismantled
In a related operation, the NDLEA arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Ajetsibo Emami, widely known as ‘Warri Kinsman,’ following a three-day intelligence-led operation in Ikeja, Lagos. Emami’s network was busted with the recovery of 681 pouches of premium Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 414.2 kilograms, neatly packed in 24 jumbo bags. The drug haul was reportedly en route to Lekki for further distribution.
Simultaneously, a businessman, Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary, their daughters Stella and Ngozi, and family friend Okoro Elijah were apprehended for operating a major drug distribution ring in Lagos. Initially arrested with 277.5kg of cannabis by the Department of State Services (DSS), further raids uncovered an additional 231kg hidden in their residence. The family’s continued operations while in detention exposed the depth of their involvement in the illicit trade.
Multi-State Crackdowns Yield Massive Drug Seizures and Arrests
The NDLEA’s week-long crackdown extended across multiple states, leading to significant seizures and arrests. At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), officers intercepted Aburemi Hysent, who attempted to smuggle 7,660 tramadol pills concealed in food items to Italy. In a separate operation, 52 counterfeit travelers’ cheques worth AU$17.7 million, hidden in children’s books and destined for Malaysia, were seized, with freight agent Bolarinwa Saheed taken into custody.
Further operations at Seme Border recovered 718 large balls of cannabis weighing 359kg, while along Okene-Lokoja highway, tramadol pills, co-codamol, and Colorado (a potent cannabis strain) were intercepted. Follow-up operations in Abuja led to the arrest of Chinedu Odo, Samuel Ogbonna, and Kingsley Ugaji.
In Osun State, multiple suspects were arrested with large quantities of opioids during coordinated raids on homes, shops, and even a vulcanizer’s workshop. Notably, NDLEA operatives destroyed 24,175kg of cannabis cultivated on nearly 10 hectares of farmland in the Oke-Ila forest, arresting seven suspects at the scene.
NDLEA Expanding the War on Drugs: From Borno to Taraba
The NDLEA’s crackdown reached northern states as well, with significant seizures in Borno (167kg of cannabis), Kano (452kg), and Kebbi (312kg plus 10,000 diazepam tablets). In Taraba, 49,930 tramadol capsules were seized from two suspects, Chigbo Okolo and Ishaku Musa, while Edo State operatives raided multiple cannabis farms, arresting suspects and seizing processed skunk.
In Cross River, a 78-year-old man, Mike Abeng, was among several suspects arrested with skunk and tramadol. Similar arrests were made in Kaduna, Sokoto, and across various states, showcasing NDLEA’s widespread and relentless pursuit of drug traffickers operating at every level of the trade.
NDLEA Strengthening Prevention Through Advocacy and Public Engagement
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through community engagement and sensitization programs. Lectures and advocacy sessions were held in schools such as Queen of Angel Secondary School in Enugu, Divine Purpose College in Lagos, and Al-Furqan College in Katsina, as well as grassroots communities like Gomari Binta Suga in Borno.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the agency’s officers nationwide for their dedication to both supply reduction and demand reduction strategies. Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug networks while also educating Nigerians on the dangers of substance abuse.
As the NDLEA intensifies its nationwide operations, these latest successes highlight the importance of vigilance, intelligence-sharing, and community involvement in the ongoing battle against narcotics in Nigeria.
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