Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 12 parcels of cocaine concealed in food flasks at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, as part of a series of coordinated anti-drug operations across the country.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the cocaine, weighing 2.80 kilograms, was discovered at the airport’s export shed while being prepared for shipment to the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic flight.
Two cargo agents linked to the consignment were arrested on the spot, while a 52-year-old freight forwarder identified as the sender was later apprehended in a follow-up operation.
In a separate incident at the airport’s import shed, NDLEA officers intercepted 2.90 kilograms of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, hidden inside snack packs arriving from the United States aboard a Delta Air Lines flight.
Initial arrests of two clearing agents led to the capture of the consignee, a 29-year-old fashion designer, who was picked up at his residence in Ogba, Lagos.
Beyond Lagos, the agency recorded major seizures across several states, highlighting the scale of drug trafficking networks nationwide.
Along the Kaduna–Zaria highway, operatives intercepted a truck loaded with cement, uncovering 760 blocks and 33 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 847 kilograms. The driver was arrested in connection with the seizure.
In Cross River State, a joint operation with security personnel led to the arrest of a 53-year-old woman at a forest in Uwet community, where 15,000 kilograms of cannabis cultivated on six hectares of farmland were destroyed, with an additional 119 kilograms recovered.
Similarly, in Edo State, operatives raided a cannabis farm in Ovia North East Local Government Area, destroying over 2,281 kilograms of the substance and arresting three suspects. Further arrests were made in Delta State, where 87.8 kilograms of cannabis and seeds were seized.
Back in Lagos, two suspects were apprehended along the Lagos-Badagry expressway while transporting 11,900 capsules of tramadol and 400 ampoules of phenobarbital injection intended for distribution in Ghana. Another raid on a building in Lagos Island led to the recovery of 95.8 kilograms of cannabis.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign, conducting awareness programmes in schools and communities across states including Niger State, Kogi State, Katsina State, Kano State, and Lagos.
NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa commended officers across various commands for their efforts, noting that the agency remains committed to balancing enforcement operations with public sensitisation to curb drug abuse nationwide.
