Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 2.80 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the false bottoms of food flasks bound for the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The cocaine consignment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives attached to the export shed of the Lagos airport on Thursday, April 9, 2026, while two cargo agents involved in the export bid — Ama Obinna Ufeim, 33, and Ogabi Monday Akorede, 39 — were arrested.
The Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement made available to ThelensNG on Sunday.
“Further investigation revealed a 52-year-old freight and forwarding agent, Agoro Tajudeen Moninuola, as the sender of the consignment, and he was arrested in a follow-up operation,” the statement said.
In a similar operation, NDLEA officers at the import shed of the Lagos airport on Wednesday, April 8, intercepted a consignment of Loud (a strong strain of cannabis) with a gross weight of 2.90 kilograms and concealed in snack food packs, which arrived from the United States of America aboard a Delta Airlines flight.
Two cargo clearing agents — Animashaun Moshood Adetunji and Mercy Gabriel Oluwasegun, were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the consignee, Saheed Adeshina Adegoke, a 29-year-old fashion designer, was nabbed in a follow-up operation at 3, Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba, Lagos, on Monday, April 13.
Elsewhere (Kaduna), NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria Highway by Gwargwaje Zaria intercepted a trailer conveying cement destined for Hadeja in Jigawa State on Monday, April 13.
Babafemi revealed that a search of the truck led to the recovery of 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk (a strain of cannabis) weighing 847 kilograms. The truck driver Umar Garba Haruna, 33, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 53-year-old female suspect, Alice Sunday Udoh, was arrested when NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided a forest in Uwet community, Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State, on Thursday, April 16. No fewer than 15,000 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on six hectares of farmland, and 119 kilograms of the same substance were recovered.
Similarly, a cannabis farm was raided at Saboro camp, Ovia North East LGA, Edo State, where NDLEA operatives destroyed 2,281.43kg of same psychoactive substance, while three suspects — Nweke Smart, 27; Christopher Egbe, 62; and Monday Ayan, 45, were arrested on Tuesday, April 14. The duo of Egbe and Ayan were caught with 38.5kg cannabis and its seeds.
Two suspects — Sunday Odili, 49, and Ijenebe Joshua, 39, were also nabbed with 87.838kg skunk and seeds at Powerline area of Okwo, Delta State, on Friday, April 17.
In Lagos, two suspects — Chinedu Ogbekene and Zindozin Aloukou Bienvenu were arrested at Mile 2, Lagos/Badagry Expressway while conveying 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection in a truck to Ghana on Wednesday, April 15. On the same day, NDLEA operatives raided a two-storey building at Petti, Lagos Island, where a total of 95.8kg skunk was recovered.
In the same vein, 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, communities, and other places in the past week.
The activities included WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Alfurgan Islamic School, Paiko, Niger State; Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River; Heritage Model School, Ankpa, Kogi; Government Day Junior and Senior Secondary School, Kankia, Katsina; Government Senior Secondary School, Rano, Kano; and De Ambassador Secondary School, Epe, Lagos State.
Commenting on the arrests and seizures, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, and Lagos Commands for their professionalism and commitment.
Marwa noted that their drug supply reduction efforts were balanced with WADA sensitisation activities, urging them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.
