HomeCrime#NDLEA Intercepts Nursing Student and Major Drug Traffickers Across Nigeria

#NDLEA Intercepts Nursing Student and Major Drug Traffickers Across Nigeria

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted multiple drug trafficking operations, including the arrest of a 26-year-old nursing student, Esther Onyinyechi Uzodinma, who attempted to smuggle 76 wraps of cocaine to India.

Nursing Student’s Arrest in Kano

Esther, a 200-level nursing student at Noida International University in Uttar Pradesh, India, was arrested on January 16, 2025, at the Royal Park Hotel in Sabon Gari, Kano. She was preparing to ingest the cocaine before boarding her Qatar Airways flight to Delhi.

NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the arrest followed the interception of a courier, Cosmas Okorie, who was transporting the cocaine concealed in an audio speaker.

Details of the Operation

  • Interception of Courier: Okorie was apprehended along the Okene-Lokoja Highway in Kogi State while traveling from Lagos to Kano with 76 cocaine pellets weighing 1.34kg hidden in an audio speaker.
  • Recruitment and Motivation: Esther admitted being recruited by a drug cartel in India, which paid for her trip to Nigeria under the guise of a holiday visit. She was promised $5,000 for successfully delivering the drugs.

Widespread Drug Operations and Arrests

The NDLEA also conducted multiple raids and operations across Nigeria, leading to significant seizures and arrests:

  1. Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Highway:
    • Four suspects arrested transporting over 38,000 tramadol pills hidden in audio speakers and clothing destined for Maiduguri, Kano, and Abuja.
  2. Lagos Raids:
    • Ojodu-Berger: 10 parcels of Canadian Loud cannabis (4.9kg) seized, along with branded packaging materials.
    • Igando: Three suspects arrested with 1,610kg of cannabis, 6kg of tramadol, and vehicles used for drug distribution.
    • Lekki and Lagos Island: Multiple raids recovered 95kg of assorted drugs, including skunk, tramadol, Molly, methamphetamine, and ₦623,650 in cash.
  3. Kano Operations:
    • Two suspects arrested in Dawakin Tofa with 7.6kg of skunk and psychoactive substances like “Suck and Die.”
    • Along Zaria Road, another suspect was nabbed with 49.8kg of skunk.
  4. Kwara and Taraba States:
    • In Kwara, three suspects were arrested with 390 Molly tablets and 65.5kg of cannabis.
    • In Taraba, a suspect was caught transporting 25,000 tramadol pills on the Wukari-Zaki Ibiam Road.

NDLEA’s Commitment

The NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug trafficking and protecting public health. These operations underscore the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug cartels operating within and beyond Nigeria.

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