NDLEA busts US, UK-bound drug consignment, intercepts tramadol in frozen snails

By Kingsley Omonobi

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) astatine the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) astatine the play intercepted consignments of illicit drugs concealed successful frozen snails, electrical bulbs and pistillate apparel heading to the United States, United Kingdom, and Democratic Republic of Congo, which were shipped by a courier institution successful Lagos.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, said, “At slightest 2 suspects linked to attempts to export the illicit substances person already been taken into custody.

“One of them, a cargo agent, Boladale Riliwan, was arrested connected 7th October 2025 pursuing the find of 15 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis, concealed successful 10 pieces of elephantine rechargeable electrical bulbs helium presented successful a carton for aerial freight to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) astatine the export shed of the Lagos airport.

“Another fishy successful custody is 48-year-old Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot, who is simply a UK-based Public Health Assistant.

“She was arrested connected Sunday, 12th October astatine the departure hallway of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, pursuing the find of frozen snails utilized to conceal 2,300 pills of tramadol 225mg successful her luggage portion heading to Manchester, United Kingdom, connected a Qatar Airways flight.

“Attempt by different syndicate to export 810 pills of bromazepam hidden successful pistillate apparel going to the United States was besides thwarted by NDLEA officers astatine a courier institution successful Lagos connected Thursday 16th October”.

In Adamawa, a suspect, Bello Buba, was intercepted astatine an NDLEA checkpoint successful Namtari, Yola South LGA, with 38,270 pills of tramadol concealed successful the spare tyre, boot, and doorway compartments of his Honda Civic car, which helium drove each the mode from Benin Republic to smuggle the consignment into Nigeria connected Sunday, 12th October.

‎”Not little than 53,250 kilograms of skunk were destroyed connected 21.3 hectares of cannabis workplace successful Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti state, with 70 bags of the aforesaid psychoactive substance weighing 1,140kg recovered by NDLEA operatives during an cognition that lasted betwixt Sunday, 12th and Monday, 13th October.

“Suspects arrested include: Matthew Emmanuel, 26; James Moses, 27; and Israel Samuel, 20.

“This followed the demolition of 17,400kg skunk connected 6.96 hectares of plantation by NDLEA operatives astatine Aponmu wood reserve, Akure, Ondo authorities connected Sunday 12th October”.

‎In Oyo state, Aliyu Muhammed, 50; Babarinde Segun,32; Ogunbiyi Sanjo, 30; and Ajani Oluro,30, were nabbed with 596kg of skunk astatine Apata-Ako, Igboora, portion Jacob Afolabi, 30, and Salako Oluwatobi, 25, were arrested with 273kg  of the aforesaid substance astatine Odo-Oyan, Igangan, connected Thursday, 16th October.

Joseph Andrew was arrested successful possession of 88kg of skunk connected Wednesday, 15th October, by NDLEA operatives astatine Ona – Imeko, Ogun state.

Another suspect, Festus Udoh, 42, was nabbed with 13,000 pills of opioids on the Onitsha-Owerri road, Imo state. In the aforesaid vein, a full of 74.5kg of skunk was recovered from the store of a suspect, Joseph Chukwujama, astatine Umuogbo-Agu village, Enugu state, connected Saturday, 18th October.

In Lagos, nary less than 11 bags of skunk weighing 117kg were recovered from the basal of a suspect, Ramoni Olukowi, successful the Mushin country connected Saturday, 18th October.

A full of 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted successful a instrumentality earlier watch-listed by NDLEA coming from India during a associated introspection of the shipment with men of Customs work and different information agencies astatine the Apapa larboard connected Tuesday, 14th October.

In similar manner, Commands and formations of the Agency crossed the state continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities, among others, successful the past week.

These include: WADA advocacy lecture to students and unit of Commercial Grammar School, Igogo Ekiti; Junior Secondary Smart School, Kasarawa, Katsina; Government Technical College, Ahoada, Rivers; Government Girls Junior Secondary School, Yau Danzabuwa, Babura, Jigawa state; Attarbiyya Community College, Hotoro, Kano; Fuga Mixed Secondary School, Fuga, Edo state; St. Cyprian Special Science School, Nsukka, Enugu; and St. Peter’s College, Olomore, Abeokuta, Ogun state, among others.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended ...