The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted several drug shipments disguised as everyday items and arrested a top drug suspect after months on the run.
At Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport, agents found 23 parcels of cannabis, locally known as “loud,” weighing 11.3 kilograms and hidden inside microwave ovens shipped from Thailand. The package arrived through Ethiopia, and a suspect, Ezenwegbu Chike, was taken into custody.
In a separate case, NDLEA operatives discovered 400 grams of cocaine and phenacetine stuffed inside female lipsticks. The consignment, which also contained face powder and hair attachments, was bound for Guinea. A businessman, Ezeikwelume Prince Afam, was arrested at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex in connection with the find.
A major arrest was made on July 9 when operatives tracked down Okechukwu Izugha, also known as Okey Omeogo, at his wife’s shop in Ijesha Market, Lagos. He had been on the agency’s wanted list since August 2024, when 9 kilograms of cocaine were linked to him. His wife, Maureen Izugha, was earlier convicted and jailed for possessing 500 grams of cocaine.
In Edo State, over 28,000 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed across three large farms in Ewere-Uzebba forest, Owan West Local Government Area. An additional 82 kilograms of processed cannabis were seized. As officers left the scene, armed cartel members opened fire on one of their vehicles. No injuries were reported.
At Okun-Ajah Beach in Lagos, NDLEA recovered 1,400 compressed blocks of cannabis, known as Ghana Loud, weighing 700 kilograms. On the Ajah-Epe expressway, two men, Innocent Ejidiobo and Friday Paul, were caught with 26 kilograms of cannabis, 123 grams of methamphetamine, and 45 grams of Molly.
In Maiduguri, Borno State, 42-year-old Godwin Chimaobi Nwaobi was arrested with over 18,000 ampoules of pentazocine and other drugs, including tramadol and rohypnol. Another 10,000 tramadol pills were earlier seized from Abdulrahman Bello Ahmadu, aged 34.
In Gombe, five suspects were arrested during raids that uncovered 116,226 pills of tramadol and D-5 at the main market and along the Gombe-Kano road.
On July 10, NDLEA arrested Sabiu Bala on the Okene-Lokoja expressway in Kogi State with over 316 kilograms of cannabis. In Kaduna, Haladu Suleiman, 38, was arrested with nearly 59 kilograms of cannabis in Gubuchi, Ikara LGA.
Three suspects—Auwal Ibrahim, 30; Lukman Ibrahim, 18; and Hamza Adamu, 25—were arrested in Taraba State at Lanka Viri checkpoint with nearly 578,000 opioid pills and 1.16 kilograms of cannabis hidden in the tyre compartment of a petrol tanker.
On July 9, three men in Kano State—Shamsudini Abdullahi, 35; Adamu Abdullahi, 21; and Magaji Rabo, 26—were caught with 48.1 kilograms of cannabis at Janguza barracks.
NDLEA also continued its drug education campaign, the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), across schools and communities in states such as Cross River, Enugu, Lagos, Anambra, Kano, and Abia. Lectures were held in Word of Promise High School, Calabar, and Government Girls Arabic Senior Secondary School, Wudil.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers involved, praising their efforts in reducing both the supply and demand for illegal drugs across the country.
