Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have foiled multiple attempts by suspected drug trafficking syndicates to smuggle illicit substances concealed in winter jackets, body cream containers, and carton walls through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The agency confirmed that two consignments destined for Italy were intercepted at the airport, leading to the arrest of suspects linked to the illegal shipments.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, revealed that one of the suspects, Friday Ehianuka, 37, was intercepted on March 20, 2026, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Rome, Italy.
According to the agency, Ehianuka was found with 2,698 pills of tramadol (225mg) hidden inside containers of skin-lightening body cream packed in his luggage.
Babafemi stated that the suspect, who resides in Milan, admitted during interrogation that he had agreed to transport the drugs to Italy in exchange for a fee in euros.
In a separate operation on March 18, NDLEA officers at the departure hall arrested another suspect, Christian Agbonhese, 38, who was attempting to board a Lufthansa flight to Milan.
A search of his luggage uncovered 28,470 pills of opioids, including 23,150 pills of tramadol (225mg), 4,000 tablets of tapentadol (250mg), and 1,320 pills of tramadol (100mg). The drugs were carefully concealed in two large winter jackets.
Courier Firm Interception
The NDLEA also intercepted drug shipments at a Lagos-based courier facility. According to the agency, officers recovered 1 kilogram of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, hidden in a carton shipped from the United States.
In another instance, 158 grams of methamphetamine were discovered concealed within the walls of a carton destined for New Zealand.
Arrests Across States
Beyond Lagos, NDLEA operations across several states resulted in additional arrests and seizures.
In Kano State, officers arrested Abdulkadir Mamuda, 35, with 102.5kg of skunk, while another suspect, Uche Johnson Festus, 47, was caught with 95.5kg of the same substance.
In Lagos, operatives recovered 21,737 bottles of codeine-based syrup during a raid in the Otto area of Ijora. Two suspects, Chidiebere Anigbogu and Paul Nwagbara, were also arrested on the Third Mainland Bridge while transporting 8,380 bottles of the syrup.
Further seizures were recorded in other parts of the country. In Edo State, officers recovered 97.5kg of skunk from the residence of Akeem Idde, 37, in Ojah, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA officers intercepted a commercial bus along the Gwagwalada Expressway, recovering 91,840 pills of tramadol hidden within the vehicle’s compartments. The driver, Aminu Ali, 27, was arrested.
Other seizures were reported in Oyo State, Kaduna State, Taraba State, and Adamawa State, where several suspects were apprehended and large quantities of narcotics confiscated.
NDLEA Commends Officers
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, commended officers across the agency’s commands for their vigilance and commitment in combating drug trafficking.
Marwa urged operatives to sustain their enforcement efforts while continuing public sensitisation campaigns under the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse initiative.
The NDLEA reiterated its commitment to intensifying efforts against the production, trafficking, and abuse of illicit drugs across Nigeria.
