NDLEA Intercepts US, UK, DRC-Bound Illicit Drug Consignments Concealed in Snails, Bulbs, Arrests 2 Suspects
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and women’s clothing, destined for the United States, United Kingdom, and Democratic Republic of Congo.
The interceptions took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos.
According to a statement made available to ThelensNG by the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, two suspects connected to the attempted export of the illicit substances have already been taken into custody.
“One of them, a cargo agent Boladale Riliwan was arrested on 7th October 2025 following the discovery of 15 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis, concealed in 10 pieces of giant rechargeable electrical bulbs he presented in a carton for airfreight to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the export shed of the Lagos airport.
“Another suspect in custody is 48-year-old Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot who is a UK-based Public Health Assistant. She was arrested on Sunday 12th October at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja following the discovery of frozen snails used to conceal 2,300 pills of tramadol 225mg in her luggage while heading to Manchester, United Kingdom, on a Qatar Airways flight,” the statement noted.
Babefemi disclosed that the attempt by another syndicate to export 810 pills of bromazepam, hidden in women’s clothing destined for the United States, was also thwarted by NDLEA officers at a courier company in Lagos on Thursday, October 16.
In Adamawa, a suspect, Bello Buba was intercepted at an NDLEA check point in Namtari, Yola South LGA, with 38,270 pills of tramadol concealed in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of his Honda Civic car. Buba had driven all the way from Benin Republic to smuggle the consignment into Nigeria on Sunday, October 12.
No fewer than 53,250 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on 21.3 hectares of cannabis farm in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti State, with 70 bags of the same psychoactive substance, weighing 1,140kg, recovered by NDLEA operatives during an operation that lasted from Sunday, October 12, to Monday, October 13.
The spokesperson revealed that three suspects identified as Matthew Emmanuel, 26; James Moses, 27; and Israel Samuel, 20, were arrested. He stated that their apprehension followed the destruction of 17,400kg skunk on 6.96 hectares of plantation by NDLEA operatives at Aponmu Forest Reserve, Akure, Ondo State, on Sunday, October 12.
Elsewhere (Oyo State), Aliyu Muhammed, 50; Babarinde Segun,32; Ogunbiyi Sanjo, 30; and Ajani Oluro,30, were nabbed with 596kg skunk at Apata-Ako, Igboora, while Jacob Afolabi, 30, and Salako Oluwatobi, 25, were arrested with 273kg of same substance at Odo-Oyan, Igangan, on Thursday, October 16.
While Joseph Andrew was arrested in possession of 88kg skunk on Wednesday, October 15, by NDLEA operatives at Ona – Imeko, Ogun State, another suspect Festus Udoh, 42, was nabbed with 13,000 pills of opioids along Onitsha- Owerri Road, Imo State. A total of 74.5kg skunk was also recovered from the store of a suspect Joseph Chukwujamaa at Umuogbo – Agu village, Enugu State on Saturday, October 18.
Similarly, no fewer than 11 bags of skunk, weighing 117kg were recovered from the base of a suspect, Ramoni Olukowi, in the Mushin area of Lagos State on Saturday, October 18, while a total of 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in a container earlier watch-listed by NDLEA originating from India during a joint examination of the shipment with men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Apapa Port on Tuesday, October 14.
Meanwhile, the Commands and formations of the Agency continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities across the country in schools, worship centres, work places, communities, and other places in the past week.
These activities included WADA advocacy lecture to students and staff of Commercial Grammar School, Igogo Ekiti; Junior Secondary Smart School, Kasarawa, Katsina; Government Technical College, Ahoada, Rivers; and Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Yau Danzabuwa, Babura, Jigawa State.
The anti-narcotics agency also extended its outreach to Attarbiyya Community College, Hotoro, Kano; Fuga Mixed Secondary School, Fuga, Edo State; St. Cyprian Special Science School, Nsukka, Enugu; and St. Peter’s College, Olomore, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Commenting on the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of MMIA, Apapa, Lagos, Ekiti, Adamawa, Oyo, Enugu, Ogun, Ondo, and Imo Commands for their commitment.
Marwa urged them and their colleagues across the country not to relent in their ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.
