Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a widow and fashion designer, Mrs. Ifeoma Henrietta Ezewuike, for attempting to transport 1.3 kilograms of cocaine by disguising herself with a fake pregnancy to evade scrutiny and detection.
Ezewuike (50) — a mother of one and proprietress of Golden Star Creation, a fashion outfit in Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, was arrested at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba area of the state on Friday, August 22, 2025 while attempting to move the cocaine consignment to customers in Abuja.
The Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement made available to ThelensNG on Sunday.
“A follow up operation at her house in Ago Palace area led to the recovery of 200 grams of cutting agent used in the production of a strain of cocaine. In her statement, Ezewuike claimed she inherited the criminal trade from her husband who died two years ago, while she has been in the fashion business for 20 years,” the statement noted.
In another operation, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted not less than 90 parcels of Loud (a strain of cannabis) weighing 48.6kg, imported from the United States of America (USA) and concealed in three cartons of kitchen sink at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 19.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence in Adamawa on Friday, August 22, raided the home of a notorious drug dealer Idris Garba who scaled the fence to escape arrest while one of his associates Boniface Nnaji, 55, who attempted same was caught in the act at Rumde Baru area of Yola South.
Babefemi highlighted the items and illicit substances recovered from the premises, including a black Toyota Thundra Jeep marked FST- 885-CZ driven to Yola by Nnaji to supply Garba 354,480 pills of tramadol 225mg, 250mg and others as well as a Toyota Yaris car with registration number DSA 776 AA.
He also revealed that a total of 5,000 capsules of tramadol, 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection were seized from a suspect Neche Okonkwo at the Idah waterside after crossing the River Niger from Onitsha, Anambra State to Lokoja, Kogi State with the opioids on Wednesday, August 20.
Elsewhere (Kano), the duo of Buhari Ibrahim, 25, and Mansur Musa, 24, were nabbed at Zangon Dakata Ungogo, with 5,850 capsules of pregabaline on Tuesday, August 19, while a total of 452,070 pills of opioids were recovered from the home of a suspect Rabilu Mukhtar, who is at large, at Rangaza, Ungogo LGA.
The spokesperson stated that Buhari Idris, 35, was arrested at Tashan Rami area of the state with 140 litres of codeine syrup on the same day, adding that no fewer than 7,000 capsules of tramadol were seized from Adamu Yusuf, 29, along Zaria-Kano Road, Kwanar Dangora area of the state on Saturday, August 23.
In the same vein, a total of 2,289.49 kilograms of skunk (a strain of cannabis) were intercepted in three interdiction operations by NDLEA operatives in Kwara State, while 1,232.86kg was recovered from a Mitsubishi Canter truck marked ZUR 66 XT on Wednesday, August 20, at Ajase-Ipo area of the state with a suspect, Kabiru Abdullahi arrested.
The anti-narcotics agency equally seized another consignment of same psychoactive substance weighing 328.42kg from Paul Olaniran, 47, in a Mercedes Benz truck marked LSD 659 YE on the same day and location.
The statement further read: “The following day Thursday 21st August, NDLEA operatives intercepted another consignment of skunk weighing 728.21kg in a Mitsubishi Canter truck with registration number GAD 287 XA, at Ajase-Ipo junction, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State where two suspects: Abubakar Zaki, 44; and Yau Babangida, 45, were arrested. Similarly, two suspects: Awe Sunday, 50; and Ayodele Adedayo, 54, were nabbed at Alafia Quarters, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State in connection with the seizure of 96 kilograms of skunk.
“In Taraba, NDLEA operatives in conjunction with Civil Defence Corps personnel on Wednesday 20th August destroyed 7,500kg skunk on three hectares of farmland at Dadin Kowa Village, Bali LGA, while 901kg of same substance was recovered from a warehouse at Uzebba in Owan West LGA, Edo State where a 54-year-old female suspect Fodo Stella Sunday was arrested on Tuesday 19th August.”
A total of 14,233.37 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on four plantations that measured 5.69375 hectares at Ebule forest, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State on Wednesday, August 20.
The statement added: “In Delta State, NDLEA operatives supported by the military destroyed a total of 25,500kg skunk on four plantations measuring 10.2 hectares in Emu-Obiogu community, Ndokwa West LGA on Thursday 21st August, while in Ondo State, 25,025kg of same psychoactive substance was destroyed on three farms with a combined measurement of 10.01 hectares at Asolo camp, Uso area of the state.
“Two dispatch riders were on Thursday 21st August arrested by NDLEA officers in a stop and search operation in Jabi area of Abuja for distributing illicit substances in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). While Garba Sule, 29, was caught with 300 milligrams of pentazocine injection, Isaac Augustine, 35, was nabbed with 8.64grams of skunk packaged for delivery.”
Meanwhile, the Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
The activities included WADA enlightenment lecture to women and teachers at Women Islamiyya School, Kanti Central Mosque, Kanti, Katsina State; Students and staff of Fathul Bari Islamiyya, Hayin Gwarmai, Bebeji LGA, Kano; while the Abia State Command of NDLEA paid WADA advocacy visit to Governor Alex Otti.
The Zone 4 Command of the Agency also paid WADA advocacy visit to HRH Andoma of Doma, Alhaji Ahmadu Aliyu Ogah in his palace in Doma, Nasarawa State.
Reacting to the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended the officers and men of DOGI, Lagos, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba, Delta, Adamawa, FCT, Ondo, Ekiti and Edo Commands for their dexterity.
Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.
