NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine, Tramadol Consignments in Vehicle Side Mirrors at Lagos Airport
...Seizes Opioids in Footwears at Maiduguri Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol 225mg concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors heading to Libreville, Gabon through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos.
According to a statement by the NDLEA on Sunday, not less than three suspects linked to the cargo have already been arrested in follow-up operations.
The statement signed by the anti-narcotic agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi and made available to Thelensng disclosed that the first batch of the consignment consisted of 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of Cocaine weighing 1.60kg.
Babafemi explained that the drugs were intercepted in a cargo going to Gabon on Air Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
“A popular cargo agent Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict handling the shipment was immediately arrested, after which further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah on Sunday, July, 20, 2025.
“Eleven parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 1kg were later recovered from four additional side mirrors being prepared for export found in the home of Uzochukwu on Monday 21st July, bringing the total number of parcels of cocaine to 68 weighing 2.60 kilograms”, Babafemi further revealed.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives on Friday, August 1, 2025 arrested a businesswoman identified as Mrs. Nwafor Roseann Nneka at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex, in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos for her involvement in drug trafficking.
Her arrest followed the interception of 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine, a cutting agent, concealed in ladies’ lipsticks going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, through the export shed of the Lagos airport on July 10, 2025.
Two cargo agents linked to the shipment had earlier been arrested before the eventual arrest of Nneka who runs the criminal trade as a family business with her husband Remigus Nwafor, currently on the run.
In her statement, Mrs. Nwafor admitted she bought the lipsticks used to conceal the illicit drugs while her husband handled the actual concealment.
Similarly, in Borno State, NDLEA operatives at the arrival hall of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport (MBIAM) Maiduguri on Friday, August 1, 2025, intercepted a consignment of 160 pills of tramadol.
The banned pharmaceutical products were concealed in footwears by a 38-year-old passenger, Umar Aminu who was promptly arrested.
