RismadarVoice Reporters, July 26, 2026
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 55-year-old Lagos-based businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, over an alleged attempt to smuggle 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in cartons of food items destined for the United Kingdom.
The agency said the suspect, a clothing trader at the popular Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on Thursday, July 23, following the interception of the illicit consignment at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, a day earlier.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday, said investigators traced the shipment to the suspect after a series of arrests involving cargo handlers and other members of the alleged trafficking network.
According to the agency, three cargo agents, Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, were initially arrested for processing the consignment.
Investigators subsequently apprehended Kenneth Okakpu, who allegedly delivered the shipment to the cargo agents for export.
The NDLEA said information obtained during the investigation led operatives to identify Chinedu as the alleged mastermind of the trafficking syndicate.
He was eventually arrested while allegedly attempting to send another cocaine consignment to the United Kingdom.
The agency said the seized cocaine had been carefully concealed inside the walls of cartons used for packaging food items in an attempt to evade security checks.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo after intercepting a 2.80kg consignment of “Loud,” a potent synthetic strain of cannabis allegedly imported from the United States.
According to the agency, the consignment arrived aboard a United Airlines flight before it was intercepted by anti-narcotics officers.
Following intelligence gathering, operatives arrested the suspect at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, on July 21.
The anti-drug agency also announced the seizure of 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, an opioid pain medication frequently abused as a narcotic, during a joint cargo examination at the Lagos airport.
The shipment, which arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight, was intercepted following intelligence received by the agency.
NDLEA estimated the street value of the seized drugs at over ₦2.2 billion.
The seizure came shortly after operatives intercepted another shipment containing tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap intended for export to the United Kingdom.
At the Apapa Seaport, NDLEA officers uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud, weighing approximately 2,388.5 kilograms, concealed inside three vehicles loaded in a shipping container.
The agency estimated the street value of the illicit drugs at more than ₦7.1 billion, describing the seizure as one of its major successes in recent anti-narcotics operations.
Beyond drug-related offences, NDLEA operatives also intercepted two suspects allegedly transporting military-grade ammunition.
In Katsina State, operatives arrested Mustapha Sani, 30, during a patrol in Baure, Safana Local Government Area, after recovering 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition, including 7.62mm cartridges concealed on him.
In a separate operation along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, officers arrested Abubakar Amadu, 30, who was allegedly found transporting 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition hidden inside kegs of red oil.
The NDLEA said both suspects have been transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Meanwhile, operatives conducting raids in Ilushi Community, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, recovered 1,286 kilograms of cannabis and 86 kilograms of cannabis seeds from a warehouse.
The agency also arrested Ojore Onweze, 45, who was allegedly found with 60 kilograms of skunk, and George Agwumede, 30, who was apprehended with 13 kilograms of the same substance.
The NDLEA said the arrests and seizures underscore its commitment to disrupting drug trafficking networks operating across Nigeria’s airports, seaports and land borders.
The agency reaffirmed its determination to strengthen intelligence-led operations and collaboration with other security agencies to combat illicit drug trafficking, transnational organised crime and related offences across the country.
