The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a series of high-profile arrests and drug seizures across the country, with over 22.6 kilograms of cocaine, methamphetamine, and tramadol intercepted at major airports and border points.
Among the suspects arrested is Segun George Hunkarin, a former international football player, who was apprehended alongside his associate, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, on Tuesday, 24th June 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. Chinedu, a regular traveller between Turkey and Nigeria, was found with 37 wraps of cocaine weighing 800 grams hidden in his hand luggage. He had received the consignment during a stopover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Hunkarin, waiting at the airport car park to receive the drugs, was promptly arrested.
In another operation at MMIA on Friday, 27th June, NDLEA officers arrested Amen Okoro Godstime, a Europe-based logistics businessman, while attempting to smuggle 5,000 tramadol 225mg pills disguised as malaria medication to Spain. Okoro admitted he intended to forward the shipment from France to Italy for resale.
At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) in Enugu, NDLEA operatives intercepted Ezenwaka Chibuzor Emmanuel, a Maputo-based bar attendant, who arrived from Johannesburg with 17.5kg of methamphetamine and 3.05kg of cocaine concealed in bedsheets.
Also on the same flight, Azu Follygan Kpodar, 54, was caught with 1.25kg of liquid cocaine concealed inside a plastic soap container. A toy trader based in São Paulo, Brazil, he claimed he was bringing the substance to Nigeria while shopping for his wedding.
In Seme border, Badagry, Lagos, on the same day, NDLEA arrested Vode Jean-Luck, a 26-year-old Beninese national, with 29.5kg of skunk cannabis wrapped in 69 balls smuggled from Benin Republic.
In Kwara State, notorious dealer Mary Bolanle Oladele, popularly known as Iya Nafi, was arrested in Omu-Aran, Irepodun LGA, on Wednesday, 25th June, with various quantities of tramadol, skunk, and flunitrazepam recovered from her premises.
In Warri, Delta State, a 72-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Christy Ejaro, was arrested with retail-packed sachets of skunk at the Niger CAT area on Tuesday, 24th June.
Meanwhile, the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative continued across the nation, with sensitization lectures delivered at schools in Katsina, Oyo, Abia, Enugu, Bayelsa, Ekiti, and beyond.
Commending the efforts of the MMIA, AIIA, Seme, Delta, and Kwara Commands, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) applauded their commitment to balancing drug supply reduction with public education and demand control.
