The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Emami Ajetsibogho, known as “Warri Kinsman” and younger brother of former Niger Delta militant Chief Ayiri Emami, in connection with major drug trafficking operations spanning multiple Nigerian states.
Cocaine Concealed in Cosmetics and Documents
NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy Femi Babafemi announced Sunday that officers intercepted cocaine shipments cleverly concealed in everyday items at a Lagos courier company on July 3, 2025. Operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) discovered:
- 420 grams of cocaine factory-fitted inside 84 female lipsticks bound for the United Kingdom
- 280 grams of cocaine hidden within a property title document (Certificate of Occupancy) destined for Saudi Arabia
Major Cannabis Network Dismantled
Ajetsibogho was arrested on June 28 in Ikeja, Lagos, following a three-day operation that dismantled his extensive drug trafficking network. The bust yielded 414.2 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis strain, packaged in 681 pouches across 24 jumbo bags. Intelligence reports indicated the shipment was being moved to Lekki for distribution throughout Lagos and beyond.
Family Drug Enterprise Exposed
In a separate operation, businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife Rosemary were arrested alongside their daughters Stella and Ngozi Uchenna, plus family friend Okoro Elijah. The family operated a major drug distribution network from their Lagos home.
The Department of State Services initially arrested the couple on June 13 in Ojo with 277.5 kg of skunk. Continued investigation led to a July 1 raid of their residence and storage facility, uncovering an additional 231 kg of the same substance. Their daughters and family friend had continued the operation during the parents’ detention.
Airport Interdictions
At Murtala Muhammed International Airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted:
- Aburemi Hysent, a frequent Nigeria-Italy courier, carrying 7,660 Tramadol pills (225mg and 200mg) hidden in food items, with promised payment of 800 euros upon delivery
- Counterfeit traveller’s cheques worth 17,700,000 Australian dollars concealed in children’s books, leading to the arrest of freight agent Bolarinwa Saheed
Nationwide Operations
The agency conducted simultaneous operations across multiple states:
Border and Highway Seizures:
- 359 kg of skunk recovered from Seme border storage facility
- 10,000 Tramadol pills and 1.05 kg of Colorado cannabis intercepted on Okene-Lokoja highway
Osun State Operations:
- Multiple arrests yielding over 62,000 opioid pills and ampoules
- 24,175 kg of cannabis destroyed across 9.67 hectares of farmland at Ikaka forest
- Seven suspects arrested in connection with the plantation
Other State Activities:
- Borno: 167 kg skunk seizure at Gamboru-Ngala
- Kaduna-Zaria: 452 kg skunk confiscated with two arrests
- Sokoto: 4,800 Tramadol pills seized
- Kebbi: 312 kg skunk and 10,000 diazepam tablets recovered
- Taraba: 49,930 Tramadol capsules confiscated
- Edo: 115 kg processed skunk seized from cannabis farms
- Cross River: 78-year-old among multiple suspects arrested with various substances
The coordinated operations demonstrate NDLEA’s enhanced intelligence capabilities and commitment to disrupting drug trafficking networks across Nigeria’s borders, airports, and internal distribution channels.
