The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and female clothing, all destined for the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to a statement by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the operations were conducted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos, leading to the arrest of at least two suspects linked to the attempts.
One of the suspects, Boladale Riliwan, a cargo agent, was arrested on October 7, 2025, after NDLEA operatives discovered 15 parcels of skunk concealed in 10 rechargeable electrical bulbs meant for shipment to the DRC. In a similar operation, Olawale Oyebola Hakeemot, a 48-year-old UK-based public health assistant, was arrested on October 12 at the MMIA departure hall while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Manchester. Officers found 2,300 Tramadol 225mg pills cleverly hidden inside frozen snails in her luggage.
An attempt by another syndicate to export 810 bromazepam pills disguised in female clothes and destined for the United States was also foiled by NDLEA officers at a courier company in Lagos on October 16.
In Adamawa State, a suspect identified as Bello Buba was intercepted at a checkpoint in Namtari, Yola South Local Government Area, with 38,270 Tramadol pills concealed in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of his Honda Civic. The suspect reportedly drove from Benin Republic to smuggle the drugs into Nigeria.
Similarly, in Ekiti and Ondo States, NDLEA operatives destroyed over 24 hectares of cannabis farms, recovering more than 70,650 kilograms of skunk during an intensive operation that lasted from October 12 to 13. Three suspects—Matthew Emmanuel, James Moses, and Israel Samuel were arrested in connection with the plantations.
The agency also made significant seizures in Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Enugu, and Lagos States, recovering large quantities of skunk, opioids, and codeine-based syrup from various suspects and hideouts. Notably, a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service at the Apapa Port led to the interception of 80,000 bottles of codeine syrup imported from India.
Meanwhile, NDLEA Commands nationwide intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns across schools, religious centres, and workplaces. The awareness programmes held in states including Ekiti, Kano, Rivers, Jigawa, Edo, Enugu, and Ogun targeted students, teachers, and community leaders, promoting drug-free lifestyles and public vigilance.
Commending the officers involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), lauded the dedication of the MMIA, Apapa, Lagos, Ekiti, Adamawa, Oyo, Enugu, Ogun, Ondo, and Imo Commands. He urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced and aggressive approach to combating drug trafficking and abuse across the country.
