The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a large cocaine consignment hidden in imported stockfish heads, alongside multiple seizures of other hard drugs across Nigeria, in a series of coordinated operations that led to several arrests, including an 80-year-old suspect in Ekiti State.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the major breakthrough followed intelligence on trans-border drug trafficking activities, leading to a sting operation by operatives of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Strategic Command in the Ojo area of Lagos on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
During the operation, three jumbo bags were found in the possession of a 36-year-old suspect, Akputa Dickson Ejike. A search revealed 237 wraps of cocaine concealed in imported dry stockfish heads, locally known as “okporoko,” with a total weight of 5.80 kilograms. The consignment was reportedly destined for Delhi, India.
In another operation in Lagos on Wednesday, March 25, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted two drug consignments at a courier company bound for the United Kingdom. The shipments, originating from Cotonou in Benin Republic, contained 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in automobile filters, as well as 40 ampoules of Morphine Sulphate and nine ampoules of Fentanyl.
Further raids by the Special Operations Unit (SOU) on Thursday, March 26, led to the arrest of a suspected drug syndicate leader, 46-year-old Omolade Abigail Jolayemi, popularly known as “Iya Ghana,” in Yaba, Lagos. Operatives recovered 135 blocks of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 76.30 kilograms. Her sales assistant, Sarah Zainab Agbabiaka, 31, was also arrested.
In a related operation in Surulere, Lagos, one Anayo Lucky Ohabiro, 39, was arrested with 78 blocks of Ghana Loud weighing 41 kilograms.
In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives arrested an 80-year-old man, Oke Samuel, during a raid at Mosafuneto camp along Erinmo Road in Efon-Alaaye. Authorities recovered 2.2 kilograms of skunk and 1.8 grams of methamphetamine from him.
Elsewhere, a raid at an uncompleted building in Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, led to the seizure of 894.72 kilograms of skunk from a suspect, Enuwa Kehinde Kingsley.
In Benue State, NDLEA operatives recovered 116.7 kilograms of skunk from a suspect, Saater Nyam, during a raid in Pevi village, Guma Local Government Area.
Similarly, in Edo State, a warehouse in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, was uncovered, resulting in the arrest of Felix Donald and the seizure of 576.5 kilograms of skunk along with 33 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
In Taraba State, operatives intercepted a truck conveying 100 blocks of skunk weighing 135 kilograms, concealed in bags of animal feed. Two suspects, Osama Mamuda and Auwal Umar, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign across the country, delivering lectures in schools in Cross River, Adamawa, Oyo, Kano, and Lagos States, among others.
Commending the operatives involved, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their efforts in balancing drug supply reduction with demand reduction nationwide.
