Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted multiple drug trafficking attempts involving cocaine, tramadol, and cannabis at airports, land borders, and other locations across Nigeria.
At the Seme land border in Lagos, officers arrested Rabi Muhammad, 35, who allegedly attempted to smuggle 3,200 capsules of tramadol concealed in a fake pregnancy bump. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the suspect was intercepted while trying to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic. A body search revealed that her protruding stomach was a pink calabash used to hide the opioid capsules.
On the same day at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, NDLEA officers arrested 41-year-old Ivorian national Michael Gohouri, also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael, during passenger clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa. A body scan confirmed ingestion of illicit drugs, and he later excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49kg. Authorities said he was to be paid €5,000 upon delivery in Italy.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Kolapo Oladapo Raji, chairman of Trans Fortress Global Resources, at his Lekki residence. Officers reportedly recovered 89.20kg of Canadian Loud cannabis and a 2024 Toyota Hilux. Raji, who had been on the agency’s watchlist since 2025, allegedly admitted financing drug consignments before establishing his own distribution network.
Additional operations across Lagos, Rivers, Kogi, Ondo, Bauchi, Delta, and Edo states led to the seizure of large quantities of skunk cannabis, tramadol, and codeine-based syrup, along with multiple arrests.
NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa commended officers across various commands for their efforts, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to reducing both drug supply and demand nationwide.
