…as agency intercepts U.S. cannabis shipment, busts drug networks across states, destroys over 75,000kg of skunk farms
By Nkechi Eze
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed multiple drug syndicates across Nigeria, arresting a 50-year-old widow who attempted to traffic cocaine using a fake pregnancy disguise, intercepting a major shipment of cannabis imported from the United States, dismantling opioid distribution chains, and destroying over 75,000 kilograms of cannabis plantations in forest locations spanning four states.
In a statement signed by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA disclosed that operatives arrested Mrs. Ifeoma Henrietta Ezewuike, a mother of one and proprietress of Golden Star Creation, a fashion outfit located along Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos. Ezewuike was intercepted at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, on Friday 22nd August 2025, while attempting to traffic 1.3 kilograms of cocaine disguised as a pregnancy bump to customers in Abuja. A follow-up operation at her residence led to the recovery of 200 grams of a cutting agent used in producing a cocaine strain. The widow, who claimed she inherited the trade from her late husband who died two years ago, admitted she had been in the fashion business for 20 years before venturing into drug trafficking.
In a separate operation, officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted 90 parcels of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 48.6 kilograms, concealed in three cartons of kitchen sinks imported from the United States. The seizure took place on Tuesday 19th August at a courier company in Lagos.
NDLEA operatives also recorded major breakthroughs in the northern states. In Adamawa, a raid on the residence of a notorious drug dealer, Idris Garba, at Rumde Baru, Yola South, led to the arrest of his associate, 55-year-old Boniface Nnaji, after Garba scaled the fence to escape. From the premises, operatives recovered a black Toyota Thundra jeep with registration number FST-885-CZ, driven to Yola by Nnaji, which contained 354,480 pills of tramadol 225mg and 250mg, as well as a Toyota Yaris with registration number DSA-776-AA.
Similarly, in Kogi State, NDLEA officers arrested Neche Okonkwo at Idah waterside on Wednesday 20th August after he crossed River Niger from Onitsha, Anambra State, with 5,000 capsules of tramadol, 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection.
In Kano, a series of raids conducted between Tuesday 19th and Saturday 23rd August led to multiple seizures. Operatives arrested Buhari Ibrahim, 25, and Mansur Musa, 24, at Zangon Dakata Ungogo with 5,850 capsules of pregabalin. Another raid at Rangaza in Ungogo Local Government Area uncovered 452,070 opioid pills from the home of a fugitive suspect, Rabilu Mukhtar. Also, 35-year-old Buhari Idris was arrested at Tashan Rami with 140 litres of codeine syrup, while Adamu Yusuf, 29, was caught with 7,000 capsules of tramadol along Zaria-Kano Road in Kwanar Dangora.
In Kwara State, NDLEA seized a total of 2,289.49 kilograms of skunk in three separate operations. On Wednesday 20th August, officers intercepted 1,232.86kg from a Mitsubishi Canter truck marked ZUR 66 XT at Ajase-Ipo, arresting the driver, Kabiru Abdullahi. On the same day and at the same location, another consignment weighing 328.42kg was recovered from 47-year-old Paul Olaniran, who was driving a Mercedes Benz truck marked LSD 659 YE. The following day, Thursday 21st August, operatives intercepted 728.21kg of skunk in another Canter truck with registration GAD 287 XA at Ajase-Ipo junction, arresting two suspects, Abubakar Zaki, 44, and Yau Babangida, 45. In Ekiti State, Awe Sunday, 50, and Ayodele Adedayo, 54, were arrested at Alafia Quarters, Ikere-Ekiti, with 96kg of skunk.
NDLEA also destroyed vast cannabis plantations and warehouses across several states. In Taraba, operatives working with the Civil Defence Corps destroyed 7,500kg of cannabis cultivated on three hectares of farmland at Dadin Kowa village, Bali Local Government Area, on Wednesday 20th August. In Edo State, 901kg of cannabis was seized from a warehouse at Uzebba in Owan West, where a 54-year-old woman, Fodo Stella Sunday, was arrested on Tuesday 19th August. Additional raids in Edo led to the destruction of 14,233.37kg of cannabis on 5.69375 hectares of plantation at Ebule forest, Owan West, on Wednesday 20th August. In Delta, NDLEA operatives, with military support, destroyed 25,500kg on four plantations measuring 10.2 hectares at Emu-Obiogu community, Ndokwa West, on Thursday 21st August. In Ondo State, 25,025kg of cannabis was destroyed on three farms covering 10.01 hectares at Asolo camp, Uso.
The Agency also uncovered urban networks distributing narcotics in the Federal Capital Territory. Two dispatch riders were arrested during a stop-and-search operation in Jabi, Abuja, on Thursday 21st August. Garba Sule, 29, was caught with 300 milligrams of pentazocine injection, while Isaac Augustine, 35, was found with 8.64 grams of skunk packaged for delivery.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands and formations nationwide intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes. In Katsina, women and teachers at Women Islamiyya School, Kanti Central Mosque, Kanti, were educated on drug dangers. In Kano, students and staff of Fathul Bari Islamiyya, Hayin Gwarmai, Bebeji Local Government, were sensitised. In Abia State, the NDLEA Command paid a WADA advocacy visit to Governor Alex Otti, while Zone 4 Command visited the palace of HRH Andoma of Doma, Alhaji Ahmadu Aliyu Ogah, in Nasarawa State.
Commending the officers and men of the Agency for their efforts, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), hailed the coordinated operations in Lagos, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba, Delta, Adamawa, Ekiti, Abuja, Ondo, and Edo States, urging operatives to sustain the momentum. “I enjoin our officers and men across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency,” he said.
