The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its war against illicit drug trafficking with a wave of arrests and seizures across the country, including the apprehension of a Chinese businessman and an 80-year-old woman.
Liang Tak You, a naturalised Malaysian-based Chinese national, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday, 25th July 2025, after arriving from Bangkok via Dubai. Acting on intelligence, NDLEA operatives tracked his movements and intercepted two suitcases in his possession containing 50 parcels of Loud, a strong synthetic cannabis strain, weighing 26.10kg.
In a separate raid in Calabar South, Cross River State, an octogenarian, Mrs. Grace Ekpeme, was arrested with over 3kg of skunk at her residence. The operation followed credible intelligence linking her to local drug distribution activities.
One of the most bizarre concealment methods was uncovered in Lagos, where NDLEA operatives intercepted Colorado, a synthetic variant of cannabis, cleverly packaged in local moimoi cooking sachets during a routine stop on Epe-Ajah Expressway.
At the Apapa seaport, a major consignment of Canadian Loud, weighing 101kg and disguised as tins of Bean Salad Mix, was seized from a container shipped from Canada. The drugs had been hidden in two vehicles packed within the container.
Several coordinated operations across multiple states led to the recovery of various narcotics including cannabis, opioids like tramadol and diazepam, and codeine-based syrups all concealed in commercial buses, private homes, motor parks, abandoned vehicles, and even traditional foodstuffs like garri and scent leaves.
The Agency also extended its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy to schools and traditional institutions in various parts of the country, sensitising communities on the dangers of drug abuse.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their vigilance and strategic operations, stressing the importance of maintaining momentum in both drug supply reduction and public sensitization.
