The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded one of its most significant operational weeks in recent times, intercepting a Brazilian national with heroin valued at over ₦3 billion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while also seizing consignments of explosives and large quantities of illicit drugs across multiple states. The coordinated actions, driven by intelligence-led operations, underline the agency’s renewed push to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent the use of narcotics to fuel criminal and terror activities nationwide.
Beyond the dramatic airport arrest, NDLEA operatives conducted sweeping raids across Borno, Jigawa, Kwara, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Kano, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and other states, leading to numerous arrests, seizures running into several tonnes, and the interception of controlled substances concealed in creative but ultimately unsuccessful methods.
₦3 Billion Heroin Seizure at Abuja Airport
Operatives of the NDLEA arrested a 30-year-old Brazilian woman, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after she arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from São Paulo via Doha. Acting on processed intelligence, officers searched her checked-in luggage and discovered 21 factory-sealed packs of Brazilian coffee.
Further examination revealed that the coffee packs concealed white substances which tested positive for heroin. The total weight of the seized drugs was 30.09 kilograms, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦3 billion. NDLEA described the haul as the single largest heroin seizure ever recorded at the Abuja airport.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspect, who reportedly works as a private security officer in Brazil, claimed she travelled to Nigeria under the guise of a holiday. Investigations are ongoing to identify the wider trafficking network connected to the shipment.
Explosives Intercepted and Terror Supply Lines Disrupted
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted two bags containing 140 packets of explosives concealed in a commercial bus travelling along the Kaduna–Zaria highway. The explosives were reportedly destined for Kano and Kaduna States. Two suspects, Aminu Ali Baba, 20, and Abdulrasheed Abubakar, 28, were arrested in follow-up operations in Kano and Kaduna respectively.
As part of efforts to prevent illicit drugs from reaching terror groups, NDLEA officers in Borno State intercepted 179,590 pills of tramadol and diazepam concealed in sacks of charcoal and animal feed aboard a public transport vehicle from Yobe State. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Rabiu Imam, 32, in Maiduguri.
These seizures, according to the agency, highlight the evolving tactics of criminal networks and the need for sustained intelligence-driven enforcement to protect national security.
NDLEA Nationwide Drug Raids and High-Profile Arrests
Across Lagos, Ekiti, Edo, Kano, Benue, Delta, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, and the FCT, NDLEA operatives recovered large quantities of cannabis, tramadol, codeine syrup, pentazocine injections, and other psychoactive substances. At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, two passengers were arrested while attempting to smuggle nearly 4,000 pills of controlled drugs concealed in food items.
In Ekiti State, a 72-year-old man and another suspect were arrested for drug dealing, while in Edo State, a village head and another suspect were taken into custody after soldiers handed them over to NDLEA with hundreds of kilograms of cannabis recovered. Similar arrests were made in Kano, Oyo, Benue, Delta, Ondo, and the FCT, reflecting the nationwide scope of the agency’s operations.
The Marine Command of NDLEA also intercepted a wooden boat at Jakande Beach, Lekki, Lagos, carrying 1,848 kilograms of “Ghana Loud” cannabis shortly after its arrival from Ghana, further demonstrating cross-border trafficking routes being actively monitored.
Public Sensitisation and Institutional Commendation
In addition to enforcement activities, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities nationwide. Educational lectures were delivered in states including Taraba, Osun, Imo, Benue, and Katsina, targeting young people and community members to reduce drug demand.
Commending the officers involved, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their professionalism and operational dexterity. He urged all commands to maintain high standards in both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, reiterating the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health and national security.
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