The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded major breakthroughs against international drug trafficking networks, arresting a 34-year-old Ugandan woman with 87 wraps of cocaine concealed around her private parts and intercepting 750,000 tablets of illicit opioids valued at N900 million at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The operations also led to the interception of illicit drugs destined for the United Kingdom and Australia, the dismantling of a syndicate importing chemicals used in the production of synthetic cannabis and the recovery of large quantities of cannabis, tramadol, cocaine-related substances and other controlled drugs across several states.
According to a statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the Ugandan suspect, identified as Farida Nansubuga, was arrested on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during a joint passenger screening exercise involving NDLEA operatives and aviation security personnel at Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.
The 87 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.15 kilogrammes, were strapped around her pelvic region and held in place beneath two layers of underwear as she prepared to board a flight to Uganda.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Nansubuga arrived in Nigeria on October 29, 2026, alongside members of her church for a prayer session at The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos.
She reportedly remained in Nigeria after other members of her delegation returned to Uganda, claiming that she stayed behind to collect the cocaine consignment on behalf of a friend identified as Joy, who resides in Uganda.
The suspect further disclosed that her contact in Nigeria arranged a vehicle to convey her to a hotel on the morning of her departure, where she received the drugs and was instructed to conceal them beneath her clothing to evade airport security. She reportedly expected to receive at least $1,000 upon successful delivery.
In another major operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 526 kilogrammes and valued at N900 million, in a consignment imported from India and falsely declared as Paracetamol 500mg tablets.
The shipment, comprising 11 cartons packed in two wooden structures, arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Ahmedabad, India, on November 3.
Following suspicions over the declaration, NDLEA officers placed the consignment under surveillance before conducting a joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other sister agencies on November 6. The examination revealed that 10 cartons contained the opioid tablets, while only one carton contained paracetamol tablets used as cover.
The agency also intercepted 32 parcels of Loud, weighing 16.15 kilogrammes, concealed inside two wooden sofas in a consolidated cargo from Houston, Texas, United States.
The seizure led to the arrest of a freight agent, Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale, who presented himself to clear the shipment, while a follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of a 34-year-old Ibadan-based caterer, Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, who came to collect the package.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives dismantled a syndicate involved in importing chemicals used in the production of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, from the United Kingdom.
The operation followed the interception of nine parcels concealed in two cartons of snacks labelled “Michael Tea Guy” in a consolidated cargo that arrived aboard an Air Peace flight from the UK on October 23.
While two of the parcels contained 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis, forensic analysis confirmed that the remaining seven contained chemicals used in producing synthetic cannabis.
A 51-year-old freight agent, Afolabi Abiodun Wale, was arrested when he attempted to clear the consignment. A subsequent sting operation conducted between October 26 and 28 led to the arrest of another suspect, Okwuite Benjamin Ojone, 51, when he took delivery of additional cartons from the UK.
Further examination of the shipment led to the recovery of 3.30 kilogrammes of substances concealed in detergent packs and 16.25 kilogrammes of mostly liquid chemicals in plastic bottles, bringing the total seizure to 28.65 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis chemicals and 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis.
The agency also intercepted 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2 kilogrammes at courier companies in Lagos on November 3, with the consignment destined for the United Kingdom.
Earlier, on October 30, operatives intercepted 296 tablets of Swinol destined for Australia, alongside three shipments of tramadol heading to the UK. The drugs included 20 capsules from Benin City and 96 capsules from Sapele, Delta State, concealed in vitamin C containers, as well as 600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg from Asaba hidden inside female headwear.
Beyond the international trafficking operations, the agency recorded several seizures and arrests across the country.
In Lagos, a 32-year-old suspect, Abubakar Ali, was arrested at Marine Beach, Apapa, on November 6, after operatives discovered a concealed drug store built inside the sitting room of his apartment. Recovered substances included tramadol, pregabalin, diazepam, codeine and 6.07 kilogrammes of cannabis.
In Ondo State, operatives recovered 148 bags of cannabis weighing 1,818 kilogrammes during a raid at Odofin Road, Uso. They also destroyed a one-hectare cannabis plantation in Board Forest, recovered another 242 kilogrammes of the substance and arrested a 36-year-old suspect, Itoro Linus Akpan.
In Ekiti State, a 53-year-old man, Agbo Paul Peter, was arrested at Osin Forest, Osin-Ekiti, with 216 kilogrammes of cannabis and cannabis seeds.
Similarly, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Golf saloon car conveying 19 bags of cannabis weighing 201 kilogrammes along the Auchi-Ibillo Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area. The driver, Abdulmumid Isah, 39, and a passenger, Danako Godwin, 25, were arrested.
A separate raid on a drug joint along Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, led to the arrest of three suspects with quantities of Colorado, Loud and cannabis.
In Taraba State, three suspects were arrested with 283 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 226.255 kilogrammes within two days at the agency’s checkpoint in Lankaviri, Yorro Local Government Area.
In Enugu State, operatives arrested a 57-year-old man, Celestine Uzochukwu Ejiakor, with 44 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.5 kilogrammes at Eke Obinagu checkpoint. Another suspect, Godwin Shaapera, 40, was arrested at Ugwuoba checkpoint with 24,000 capsules of tramadol weighing 13.4 kilogrammes and 697 grammes of ketamine.
In Delta State, operatives arrested Edugua Othuke, 30, at Ozoro, Isoko North, with 10.54 kilogrammes of skunk, 9.4 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and 4.3 grammes of methamphetamine. Another suspect, Akpofure Tobore, 34, was arrested at Upper Agbarho, Ughelli, with quantities of skunk, tramadol, rohypnol and laughing gas.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities across the country, including Oyo, Ebonyi, Kano and Anambra States. The agency’s Zone 1 Command also paid an advocacy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, HRH Alhaji Rilwanu Sulaiman Adamu.
Commending officers of the agency’s commands in Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Taraba and Enugu States for the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), described the arrest of the Ugandan woman as a reminder that drug cartels would go to extreme lengths to recruit couriers for their illicit trade.
Marwa said the case demonstrated how criminal networks exploit faith and religious travels to recruit individuals into drug trafficking, urging officers across the country to sustain the momentum of their drug supply and demand reduction efforts.
