Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple drug trafficking attempts at Nigeria’s international airports and across several states, leading to the arrest of suspects and the seizure of large consignments of illicit substances.
A China-based Nigerian businessman, Ibeanu Vincent Chukwudulue, and two Angolan nationals have excreted a total of 236 wraps of cocaine after being arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, respectively.
The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi made this known in statement on Sunday.
Ibeanu, 34, was arrested on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, while travelling on a Qatar Airways flight from Kano to China via Abuja and Doha.
Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives demanded that he be deboarded at the Abuja airport and subjected him to a body scan, which confirmed ingestion of illicit drugs. He was placed under observation and later excreted 52 pellets of cocaine, weighing 735.95 grammes.
In his statement, the suspect said he previously ran a business on Lagos Island before relocating to Guangzhou, China, in 2024.
On the same day, two Angolan nationals: Mbandu Martins Makiadi, 50, and Ngoma Wilson Fernando, 52 — were intercepted at the screening point of the departure hall of the Kano airport during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Istanbul, Turkey, via Addis Ababa. Body scans confirmed they had ingested illicit drugs.
Under observation, Mbandu excreted 76 wraps weighing 920 grammes, while Ngoma expelled 108 pellets weighing 1.33 kilogrammes. The suspects told investigators they were recruited in Luanda by an automobile spare parts dealer who promised to pay them $3,000 each upon successful delivery in Turkey.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives thwarted an attempt by a 44-year-old estate surveyor, Adelaja Taiwo Adetayo, to export 1.70 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in five jerry cans to the United Kingdom through the export shed of the Lagos airport. A cargo agent, Mustapha Quddus Opeyemi, who presented the consignment, was initially arrested, while a follow-up operation led to Adelaja’s arrest at the Ahmadiyya area of Lagos on Monday, 9 February.
Also in Lagos, NDLEA officers on Friday, 13 February, raided a four-bedroom duplex at Ikate-Elegushi, Lekki, used for the production and storage of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis. The operation followed the seizure of 73 cartons of nitrous oxide at Iyare Motor Park, Ajah–Epe Expressway, destined for Benin City, Edo State.
The driver, Amos Innocent, was arrested, while Victor Oyedeji was apprehended at the Lekki residence where 13.2 kilogrammes of freshly produced Colorado and precursor chemicals were recovered.
In Oyo State, a notorious female drug dealer, Oluwayemisi Bunmi, 45, was arrested on Wednesday, 11 February, at Hope Alakia area of Ibadan. Recovered from her were 1.189kg of Colorado and skunk, 320 grammes of methamphetamine, ₦2,975,000 in cash, and two Toyota Matrix vehicles.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Edo State raided Yoruba Camp, Olumoye Forest, in Ovia North East Local Government Area, arresting five suspects and recovering 563.5 kilogrammes of skunk.
In Kwara State, 105,400 pills of tramadol were seized from a suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi, after his J5 vehicle was intercepted at Bode Saadu.
In Abuja, a waybill package sent from Enugu and disguised as a children’s toy guitar was found to conceal 59.2 grammes of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner, Henry Onuma, at Dream City Estate, Life Camp.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and the Commands for their professionalism. He urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts nationwide.
