The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old Ugandan woman, Farida Nansubuga, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 1.15 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed around her pelvic region, as nationwide operations uncovered a N900 million opioid shipment, suspected international drug trafficking syndicates and large consignments of illicit substances.
Nansubuga, who reportedly travelled to Nigeria with members of her church for a religious programme, was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while preparing to board a flight to Uganda with 87 wraps of cocaine strapped beneath two layers of underwear.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the suspect arrived in Nigeria on October 29 to attend a prayer programme at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos.
According to the agency, while other members of her delegation returned to Uganda after the programme, Nansubuga remained behind to collect a drug consignment allegedly arranged by an associate identified as Joy, who resides in Uganda.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Joy connected the suspect with a Nigerian contact who arranged transportation to a hotel on the morning of her scheduled departure.
At the hotel, an unidentified man allegedly handed Nansubuga the cocaine and instructed her to conceal it beneath her clothing to evade airport security checks.
The agency said she expected to receive at least $1,000 for delivering the consignment in Uganda, although no definite payment arrangement had been concluded.
Her arrest followed a joint passenger-screening operation involving NDLEA officers and aviation security personnel at Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.
A preliminary search raised suspicion, prompting officers to move her to a designated private search room, where 87 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.150 kilogrammes were recovered.
In a separate operation at the airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted 750,000 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg, weighing 526 kilogrammes and valued at approximately N900 million.
The shipment, imported from Ahmedabad, India, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight, had been falsely declared as Paracetamol 500mg.
Babafemi explained that the consignment was packed in 11 cartons concealed within two wooden structures, with officers placing it under surveillance following suspicions about its contents.
A joint examination conducted on November 6 with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies revealed that 10 cartons contained Tapentadol tablets, while only the remaining carton held paracetamol, allegedly intended to disguise the illicit shipment.
The agency also intercepted 32 parcels of Loud, a potent cannabis strain weighing 16.15 kilogrammes, concealed inside two wooden sofas shipped from Houston, Texas, in the United States.
A freight agent, Ibrahim Abdulwaheed Adewale, was arrested while attempting to clear the consignment.
A follow-up operation on November 6 led to the arrest of a 34-year-old caterer based in Ibadan, Adeoye Sarafa Ojo, who allegedly arrived to collect the shipment.
Ojo reportedly told investigators that he was acting on the instructions of a friend, Taiwo Anuoluwapo Olusegun.
In another operation, the NDLEA uncovered a suspected international syndicate involved in importing chemicals used to manufacture Colorado, a synthetic cannabis substance, from the United Kingdom.
The investigation followed the October 23 interception of nine parcels concealed in cartons of snacks labelled “Michael Tea Guy” aboard an Air Peace flight from the UK.
Two parcels contained 1.2 kilogrammes of cannabis, while forensic analysis identified the remaining seven as chemicals used in synthetic cannabis production.
A 51-year-old freight agent, Afolabi Wale, was arrested while attempting to clear the shipment.
Further investigations uncovered two additional cartons shipped to the same recipient aboard an Allied Air flight.
A sting operation conducted between October 26 and 28 led to the arrest of another 51-year-old suspect, Okwuite Benjamin Ojone, when he arrived to collect the consignment.
A search revealed three parcels weighing 3.30 kilogrammes concealed in detergent packs and 11 plastic bottles containing predominantly liquid substances weighing 16.25 kilogrammes.
The agency said the operation resulted in the recovery of 1.20 kilogrammes of cannabis and 28.65 kilogrammes of chemicals suspected to be intended for synthetic cannabis production.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives intercepted several consignments of illicit drugs destined for international markets through courier companies.
In Lagos, officers recovered 46 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.2 kilogrammes, packed in two cartons and destined for the United Kingdom.
Earlier, on October 30, the agency intercepted 296 tablets of Swinol bound for Australia, alongside three separate shipments of tramadol intended for the UK.
The tramadol consignments included 20 capsules from Benin City and 96 capsules from Sapele, Delta State, concealed in vitamin C containers, as well as 600 tablets of Tramadol 225mg shipped from Asaba and hidden inside female headwear.
The agency said the interceptions exposed the use of everyday items, including furniture, clothing, food containers and household products, to conceal drugs moving through international cargo networks.
Beyond airport and courier operations, NDLEA officers recorded major seizures across several states.
In Lagos, a 32-year-old suspect, Abubakar Ali, was arrested on November 6 at Marine Beach, Apapa, after officers discovered a concealed drug storage facility inside the sitting room of his apartment.
Recovered substances included 1.06 kilogrammes of Tramadol 250mg, 1.27 kilogrammes of Tramadol 225mg, 400 grammes of pregabalin capsules, 355 grammes of diazepam, 200 millilitres of codeine and 6.07 kilogrammes of cannabis.
In Ondo State, operatives raided Odofin Road in Uso, recovering 148 bags of cannabis weighing 1,818 kilogrammes.
Officers also raided a cannabis plantation in Board Forest, destroying one hectare of cultivated land, recovering 242 kilogrammes of cannabis and arresting a 36-year-old suspect, Itoro Linus Akpan.
In neighbouring Ekiti State, a 53-year-old man, Agbo Paul Peter, was arrested at Osin Forest, Osin-Ekiti, with 216 kilogrammes of cannabis and cannabis seeds.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted a Golf saloon car transporting 19 bags of cannabis weighing 201 kilogrammes along the Auchi-Ibillo Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
The driver, Abdulmumid Isah, 39, and a passenger, Danako Godwin, 25, were arrested.
Three additional suspects were apprehended during a raid on a drug joint along Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City, where quantities of Colorado, Loud and cannabis were recovered.
In Taraba State, three suspects were arrested within two days at the NDLEA checkpoint in Lankaviri, Yorro Local Government Area, with 283 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 226.255 kilogrammes.
The suspects included Ibrahim Abdullahi, 45, allegedly found with 156 blocks weighing 149.275 kilogrammes; Kabiru Usman, 25, with 80 blocks weighing 40.07 kilogrammes; and Babangida Babayo, 32, with 47 blocks weighing 36.91 kilogrammes.
In Enugu State, operatives arrested Celestine Ejiakor, 57, at the Eke Obinagu checkpoint with 44 blocks of cannabis weighing 22.5 kilogrammes.
Another operation at the Ugwuoba checkpoint resulted in the arrest of Godwin Shaapera, 40, with 24,000 capsules of tramadol weighing 13.4 kilogrammes and 697 grammes of ketamine.
In Delta State, officers arrested Edugua Othuke, 30, at Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area, recovering 10.54 kilogrammes of skunk, 9.4 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and 4.3 grammes of methamphetamine.
Another suspect, Akpofure Tobore, 34, was arrested at Upper Agbarho, Ughelli, with quantities of skunk, tramadol, Rohypnol and laughing gas.
Alongside the enforcement operations, the agency said its commands continued awareness campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, targeting schools, religious institutions, workplaces and communities.
Reacting to the arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Taraba and Enugu states for their efforts against drug trafficking.
Marwa described the Ugandan woman’s arrest as an example of how criminal networks could exploit religious gatherings and international travel to recruit individuals as drug couriers.
He urged officers to sustain pressure on trafficking networks through intensified enforcement operations and public education aimed at reducing drug abuse.
The agency maintained that the nationwide operations reflected its continued efforts to disrupt domestic distribution networks and international trafficking routes.
Michael Olugbode
Follow us on:
