By Nkechi Eze
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a large consignment of cocaine concealed in the heads of imported dry stock fish, popularly known as “Okporoko,” in a series of operations that also led to the seizure of fentanyl, methamphetamine, morphine sulphate and large quantities of cannabis across several states.
The agency disclosed that the cocaine consignment was discovered during a targeted operation against a transnational drug trafficking syndicate suspected of exporting illicit substances to foreign destinations, particularly India.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the breakthrough followed intelligence on the criminal network’s cross-border drug trafficking activities.
The intelligence led to a coordinated sting operation by operatives of the NDLEA Strategic Command at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in the Ojo area of Lagos on Thursday, 19 March 2026. During the operation, officers apprehended a key member of the syndicate, 36-year-old Akputa Dickson Ejike.
Three jumbo-sized bags found in his possession were searched, leading to the discovery of 237 wraps of cocaine carefully buried inside the heads of imported dry stock fish. The seized cocaine pellets weighed a total of 5.80 kilograms and were allegedly being prepared for export to Delhi.
In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation intercepted two separate illicit consignments destined for the United Kingdom at a courier company on Wednesday, 25 March.
One of the consignments, which originated from Cotonou, contained 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in automobile filters. The second parcel contained 40 ampoules of morphine sulphate and nine ampoules of fentanyl.
In a separate major interdiction, operatives of the agency’s Special Operations Unit raided the residence of the alleged leader of a notorious drug syndicate, 46-year-old Omolade Abigail Jolayemi, at Carter Street, Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday, 26 March. Jolayemi, popularly known as “Iya Ghana,” was arrested alongside her sales assistant, 31-year-old Sarah Zainab Agbabiaka.
During the raid, officers recovered 135 blocks of “Ghana Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 76.30 kilograms. Investigations revealed that Jolayemi operated a textile business as a front while allegedly running a cross-border drug distribution network between Nigeria and Ghana.
On the same day, NDLEA operatives also arrested 39-year-old Anayo Lucky Ohabiro at Doyin bus stop in Surulere, Lagos, following credible intelligence. A total of 78 blocks of Ghana Loud weighing 41 kilograms were recovered from him.
Meanwhile, in Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives arrested an 80-year-old suspect, Oke Samuel, during a special raid at Mosafuneto camp along Erinmo Road in Efon-Alaaye on Thursday, 26 March. Officers recovered 2.2 kilograms of skunk and 1.8 grams of methamphetamine from the elderly suspect.
In a related operation the same day in Ondo State, NDLEA officers raided an uncompleted building at Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area, where they seized 894.72 kilograms of skunk and arrested 37-year-old Enuwa Kehinde Kingsley.
Elsewhere in Benue State, operatives recovered 116.7 kilograms of skunk from a suspect, Saater Nyam, 35, during a raid at Pevi village in Guma Local Government Area on Tuesday, 24 March.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers uncovered a warehouse in Ekpoma town in Esan West Local Government Area on Monday, 23 March. The operation led to the arrest of 25-year-old Felix Donald and the seizure of 576.5 kilograms of skunk as well as 33 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
Similarly, in Taraba State, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence intercepted a truck marked DUT 457 ZB on Tuesday, 24 March. The vehicle was transporting 100 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 135 kilograms concealed in bags of animal feed from Garbachede to Gombe State. Two suspects, Osama Mamuda, 21, and Auwal Umar, 22, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency also sustained its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign during the week, delivering sensitisation lectures to students and staff of several schools including Community Secondary School, Itigidi in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State; Government Girls Secondary School in Yola, Adamawa State; Islamic High School in Igbeti, Oyo State; Gidan Sarki Primary School in Kano; and Royal Legends Academy in Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Commending officers involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised the personnel of the MMIA Strategic Command, Special Operations Unit, Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, as well as the Ekiti, Ondo, Benue, Edo and Taraba state commands for the successful arrests and seizures.
Marwa also commended other NDLEA commands across the country for maintaining what he described as a balanced approach between drug supply reduction through enforcement and drug demand reduction through preventive advocacy.
