The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a former convict, Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, alongside three cargo agents over a shipment of cocaine concealed in liquid starch sachets and bound for the United Kingdom.
The agency said 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilogrammes were recovered from factory-sealed cold-water starch sachets at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
In a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, three cargo agents — Jubrin Firdausi Hassana, Kuku Daniel Oluwasegun and Igwe Chioma Jane — were arrested on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in connection with the consignment.
Further investigations traced the shipment to 37-year-old Nwobodo, who was arrested the following day at a popular relaxation centre in Ikeja.
The statement said Nwobodo is a known drug trafficker who was previously convicted in 2023 for dealing in 30.10kg of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦7 million fine and one month of community service, which he paid before returning to drug trafficking.
Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA records showed Nwobodo was earlier arrested in May 2023 after methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers was intercepted en route to London.
In other operations, NDLEA operatives arrested a 65-year-old driver, Sada’u Mohammed, along the Gombe–Biu highway with 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 27,900 tramadol pills and other opioids while heading to Borno State.
Also arrested was a 47-year-old businessman, Ignatius Egbochie, also known as Brown, who was wanted in connection with the seizure of 26kg of “loud” cannabis at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos. The cannabis consignment was intercepted on December 10 during a joint examination involving NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies, while Egbochie was arrested in Apapa on December 19.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to intensifying the fight against drug trafficking across the country under the leadership of its chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd).
